Viv Napier = Experience

As a long standing councillor, and Deputy Mayor for the past the 12 years, I have built a thorough understanding of how the Council functions within our community along with the scope of the Mayoral role.

Over the years I have been a member on most of our Council committees and working parties, along with the Greytown Community Board. I currently chair the Risk and Audit Working Party and I am a certified RMA Commissioner. I am also an appointed member and Co-Chair of the GWRC Waiohine Floodplain Advisory Committee and sit on many other community groups as a representative of our Council.

I am extremely proud of the progress the Council has made over the past few years for our communities. Roads, rubbish, water and wastewater are essential services, but don’t make exciting conversation. We have secured long term consents for wastewater discharge to land, thereby benefitting our rivers and the environment as a whole – something I believe no other council in NZ has achieved.

We have realised savings for ratepayers through joint contracts for roading and waste collection, and secured a new water supply for Featherston that included a Ministry of Health subsidy that reduced the rate burden on our community. We are also in a strong financial position.

I have been a strong advocate for the three Wairarapa Councils planning and working together at both a council and officer level. I was a member of the Wairarapa Combined District Plan Committee that developed the Combined Plan, the only such plan in New Zealand. This collaboration has been the basis for other combined policies including gambling venue and local alcohol policies. The process has been beneficial for our communities and ratepayers as it has given a Wairarapa-wide consistency and contributed savings in both development and implementation.

The key issue facing our Council over the next decade is the prospect of significant local government governance changes. These may require us to work even more closely with the rest of the Wairarapa region and ensure that our infrastructure and assets are in a sound position. I believe I am uniquely placed to take our District through any such process.

As Deputy Mayor I have often represented the Mayor on regional committees and, in doing so, I have built up knowledge and networks within not only the Wairarapa but also the Greater Wellington region. I believe I have an in-depth understanding of current regional issues, the challenges and the strategic goals. Wairarapa is an integral, but distinct, part of the greater region. It should have the ability to determine how it wants to manage all its assets, resources and communities while still meeting national guidelines.

I am very passionate about the South Wairarapa and extremely positive about its future. I believe I can lead our Council in ensuring that it is perfectly placed for a successful transition if governance changes are made or, if there are no changes, continuing the growth and development as a stand alone District.

Authorised by Viv Napier 13 Homestead Lane Greytown