LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS 2022
Elliot Weir
Otago Regional Council
Which communities will you speak for and about at the council table?
I will stand for the best interests of the land, water, and people of all of Otago but as a councillor I will put extra effort into making sure the voice of communities that often don’t get heard at the council table are amplified. As a postgraduate student I hope to increase the engagement of young people in issues facing the whole region, and in my time with Critic Te Ārohi I have worked closely with disadvantaged and marginalised communities and I hope to continue that if I am elected onto council.
What is the number one social and economic issue for the community and for the city? (DCC question). What is the key issue for the region at this time and for the next 10 years? (ORC question)
Improving public transport is a priority for me, but the bulk of the council work over the next year or so will be to finalise the land and water plan. This covers a wide range of issues that the ORC will have to work together to tackle over the next year, and I believe the most urgent of these is protecting our rivers for everyone to use. This will involve introducing minimum flow limits, managing pollutant runoff, tackling E. coli and sedimentation, and restoring the wetland, riparian, and freshwater biodiversity that help keep the rivers clean, swimmable, and full of life. Over the next 10 years, climate change adaptation measures will become more and more urgent and I want these implemented in the land and water plan too.
How will you elevate community aspirations? How will you know what they are? (DCC question only)
Under the Local Government Act 2002, councils are required to maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to local government decision-making processes. How will you honour this obligation in your role with the Dunedin City Council/Otago Regional Council?
I will work hard to ensure the council's Māori engagement policy (He Mahi Rau Rika) is observed to the fullest extent and mana whenua are an active part of the decision-making process. I hope to work closely with local rūnaka in Dunedin (Ōtākou and Kati Huirapa) to make sure this happens.
What is your usual approach to achieving collegial and constructive relationships with the people you work with? What is the most important element of a constructive working relationship?
If elected to council, I will work to build consensus on any issue before the council. When disagreements inevitably arise though, I believe it is critical that every conversation, decision, and meeting is held in good faith and that communication between councillors is open, honest, and respectful so that council can work constructively together. The council will also need to repair the relationship with council staff if it is to achieve its goals, which will require these same skills.
The DCC's place-based community fund has been a game changer for community-led development and growing connected and resilient communities in Ōtepoti. What more will you do as a councillor to support community development in the city? (DCC candidate question only)
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
123-456-7890
