Getting the City out of the current debt situation while managing growth to meet demand will need a cohesive approach to several areas of council business. There is no quick fix, no one right answer. This truth informs the approach to achieving my priorities: government, council, business, community - we need each other.
All the following actions will require tough decisions.
Action 1 - Strengthen the foundation and unlock growth:
- A civic lab – Partner with business sector leaders to generate and implement the right balance of foundation strengthening and sustainable growth.
- Live within our means – Prioritise spending, get back to basics, improve our credit rating, reduce debt.
- Interrogate procurement – Deliver pragmatic, cost-effective solutions by applying greater scrutiny to procurement and key cost drivers.
- Unlock housing and infrastructure bottlenecks – Identify and address regulatory and funding barriers to enable smart, sustainable development.
- Champion local enterprise and investment – Attract and retain talent and investment by creating a confident, stable environment for growth.
Action 2 - Advance through technology and embrace innovation:
- Council business – Champion technology and innovation in Council projects, processes, and service delivery.
- City-wide enablement and sector development – Empower and enable technology and innovation across the city in educational and entrepreneurial settings. Drive greater collaboration between council and investors, tech founders and iwi.
- Smart city infrastructure – Support investment in data-driven infrastructure (e.g., smart transport, energy efficiency, water monitoring) to improve liveability and sustainability.
- Digital equity – Advocate for access to digital tools, skills training, and connectivity for all residents to ensure no one is left behind in a tech-enabled future.
Action 3 - Plan boldly for generations we’ll never meet:
- Scrap short-termism – Replace short-term political planning with a 35-year intergenerational strategy for a city prepared to grow in scale, complexity, and opportunity.
- Think beyond the ballot box – Embed long-term planning for critical issues like affordable housing, public transport, river and water restoration, and social infrastructure.
- A Guardianship mindset – Prioritise environmental and social wellbeing over quick wins—decisions today must stand the test of time.
