Fresh six appreciate diversity

By David Loughrey

Dunedin's six new council candidates say they are stepping into their new role at what most describe as a diverse council.

The new crop of 2016 range from a Green candidate to the head of a rugby club and an employment consultant to a tour guide, with a wide variety of skills and life experience.

Most face a steep learning curve as they head into induction sessions this week that will begin to bring them up to speed with what can be a bewildering array of council rules and responsibilities.

Asked about the political hue of the council he was entering, Conrad Stedman, the chairman of Pirates Rugby Club, said he was not concerned about the political views of other councillors.

"I can get along with everybody, and it’s about everybody having their own views, taking it in and respecting those views, and working towards the greater good of Dunedin."

In terms of who he represented, he said he was "pretty much everything to everybody".

He was in business, but was "very much about the community and the people".

"I try to be well-rounded.

"I wouldn’t say I’m right-wing, I’m more of a centrist."

He said he planned to continue in his job as a real estate agent, and felt he would be able to balance the two roles.

Jim O’Malley said with all standing councillors returned in the election the council would probably be moving in a similar direction to the past three-year term.

"It’s a fairly similar balance. There’s probably slightly more centrist and left come back on than [have] left.

"I think we’re going to have a fairly progressive council, which is good."

Mr O’Malley said while he was a businessman, he saw no conflict between "building the economy but also making sure we bring along everybody".

For that reason, he was committed to a living wage.

He planned to continue his work as owner of bio-med company BIOCentrix, but expected to spend 25% of his time on the business, and 75% on the council.

Damian Newell said there was stability in those councillors returning to the role.

Mr Newell said he hoped to represent the young families of Dunedin.

His children were aged between 7 and 12 years old, and he wanted Dunedin to be "a place that they are proud to stay in".

He intended to continue in his role as breakfast show host on The Breeze.

Rachel Elder said the new council was "quite diverse".

There was a range of councillors who represented different groups.

She said she planned to work full-time as a councillor.

"I think it’s a full-time job."

Marie Laufiso also said she saw the council as "a diverse group".

"I think that’s going to be a strength."

Ms Laufiso said she represented people from Brockville "and other such suburbs that are physically and socially isolated".

More recently, since the recent death of her brother Michael Laufiso, she had reconnected with the Samoan community, and she had worked more closely with that community since then.

She planned to be a full-time councillor.

Christine Garey said the diversity on the new council was ‘"excellent".

"There’s some fresh positivity, I think that’s extremely important.A greater female presence added another dimension to the council.

"It’s great to see four women in council."

Ms Garey said she was "very clear" that she represented the whole city.

However the former chairwoman of the Otago Peninsula Community Board said the peninsula base was important for her win, and people had said to her it was good to have a voice for the area on the council.

Ms Garey said she would "absolutely" be a full-time councillor.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz