Brian Jephson (Jeppy)

I am seeking another term on the South Wairarapa District Council standing for the Martinborough Ward.

I have been privileged to work in the South Wairarapa as a Councillor these past nine years including three as Deputy Mayor.  I am a member of several committees including Wellington Regional Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Working Group.  I know that one of the most pressing challenges we face as a community is the need to care for the environment and the impacts of climate change.   

As a council we have made huge progress in meeting our obligations to remove treated waste water from our lakes and streams.  I want to continue this important work.

  I have a strong meeting attendance record which proves my commitment to my role as your councillor. I have and will always welcome listening to other people’s views. Being an effective councillor involves debating the merits of those views at the council table. 

I’m proud to have been at the forefront of new initiatives that are set out in our Long Term Plan and Annual Plan. These initiatives are a bold start to take the Martinborough and South Wairarapa District into the future. 

I am excited about such initiatives as the Spatial Plan that will help map the district’s future. Martinborough’s plan for The Dark Sky Reserve has the potential to have the same positive impact as the wine industry has on the district. 

As a farmer I have full awareness of the rural sector issues as well as an overview of the issues facing the urban sector. I am a team player and committed to working together with both our rural and urban communities to build a strong resilient district.