LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS 2022
Tony Lepper
Otago Regional Council
Which communities will you speak for and about at the council table?
I will speak for all people in Otago. I will have been elected by the people in the Dunstan constituency which is essentially Central Otago. Like all regional councils the ORC is made up of a number of distinct areas and there is nothing quite like Central Otago. In other areas of New Zealand irrigation can be seen as a useful supplement for rain. In Earnscleugh no fruit could be grown without irrigation. This was recognised by the Crown in the 1920’s and nothing has changed since then. Having been involved in the primary industry sector all my life I have an in-depth knowledge of the aspirations, challenges and opportunities of that sector. I jointly purchased the Earnscleugh irrigation Company on behalf of the community off the Crown in 1990 and I have stayed involved in irrigation ever since then. We have faced a myriad of change since that date. I have lived and breathed water for 35 years and I understand the value our community places on all its varying uses. If you don’t believe me, come and have a look at the Fraser River and see how we value and manage this precious resource for the benefit of everyone.
My work to raise the awareness of the wilding conifer problem in Central Otago and more recently my five years on the New Zealand Conservation Authority gives me a unique understanding of where conservation is heading in New Zealand. As part of that role, I held liaison roles with both the Otago and Canterbury conservation boards, so their aspiration and desires are still freshly part of my thinking. So, to is my belief that kaitiakitanga is not a threat to conservation. The best thing about the Māori world view is that the land needs to be used and treasured. Good guardianship involves the careful use and alignment with the land. Something all landowners should aspire to.
My family and I are avid sportspeople. These days curling, bowls, hunting and biking (of any sort) keep me active and in my community. My last piece of work for the Authority was guiding the Otago CMS through its final stages. This vital planning document will make biking on conservation lands far more accessible. I have been the Chair of Bowls New Zealand for 5 years and I thoroughly enjoy the small part that I am playing to modernise this game through thoughtful leadership and good governance. In 2020 I was made an Officer of the Order of New Zealand (ONZM) for among other things my work in Sports administration.
I think that I can speak for a wide cross section of all residents in Otago.
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)
For me restoring the public’s confidence in the Otago Regional Council is my key motivating factor. Through out its present term the ORC seems to have been embroiled in controversy and intrigue. The Chair resigned, The Minister intervened, Councillors seemed to join factions, others called for further ministerial intervention and one was disqualified from voting on the issue most important to him. The ORC became front page news in the ODT. Whether the current Councillors are part of the problem or the part of the solution to the problem the public will have to decide. What I do know is that the coffee shop conversations are all about change being required. For that reason, I decided to offer my considerable range of skills and experience as part of a possible solution.
I have 27 years of local government experience, nine as deputy mayor of Central Otago and six as their mayor. Since then, I have held several ministerial appointments. I am one of those odd people who has no national political affiliations. In fact, I have the unusual privilege of having been appointed to the NZCA by a National Minister of Conservation, reappointed by a Green Minister and worked briefly for three Labour Ministers. My time on the Authority has taught me that consensus decision making is possible even amongst the most disparate group of people. The Authority is made up of a talented pool of individuals representing the full spectrum of views on conservation. Good reporting (I know what a good report is), robust conversation and some shifting of positions always allowed us to come up with consensus-based decisions that were good for New Zealand even if they did not represent your own individual starting position. If the NZCA can do this why can’t the ORC?
I am a member of the institute of Directors. I am a former fully qualified hearings commissioner and I hold several directorships in primary industry-based organisations. I am just about to complete my first term on the Central Lakes Trust, and I am the Deputy Chair of the Center for Space Science Trust.
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?
Experience has shown me that the only way forward on any issue is to involve local Ii and hapu from the beginning of any work. Knocking on the door of our treaty partners with a pre-written solution or idea is not working in partnership. For that reason, it is essential that representatives of local iwi sit around the table and are involved from the very beginning of the conversation.
My own ability in te reo is woeful. I have always struggled with languages. This has never stopped me from trying to improve my understanding of Māori values and their world view of the interconnectedness of living and non-living things.
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?
The ability to truly listen is something that I have worked hard on. In my younger days I jumped too quickly into solution mode before letting a person finish what they were saying. This was not because I was trying to be rude, I am just wired to quickly understand things and then look for answers. I now understand how important it is to others to be heard. Only once this has occurred can you switch to looking for solutions.
Even before you listen it is important to find out who the person is that you are working with. We all have different ways of thinking and expressing ourselves and I would encourage groups to go through some personality testing so that these different approaches can be taken into account.
Finally, I would spend some social time with people. That is when you really find out who they are and what makes them tick.
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.
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