My name is Brent Cairns, I currently represent you as a member of the Kaiapoi Tuahiwi Community Board. At the 2022 elections I would like to represent you also at Council.
Local government is a fundamental part of a democratic system and the performance of your council, whether a city, district or region, matters. As a mayor, councillor or board member your decisions will have a major impact on the quality of life that you and your fellow citizens get to experience.
By choosing me you will have someone who is passionate about having your voice heard. I like to get things done making a positive impact on the community. On a weekly basis I get many calls from local residents wanting help with vaious issues they are having…and I love using my contacts to help them out.
I designed and manage the Kaiapoi Food Forest am Deputy Chair for Neighbourhood Support North Canterbury, Trustee for All Together Kaiapoi, help at Art on the Quay, represent you on the Waimakariri health advisory board, GreyPower to name a few.
Require Council to buy more from local businesses
(A vibrant and healthy society depends on a strong economy. We need to think Globally and act local.)
(Council spends over $70million a year on services…instead of looking at the bottom line, contracts must consider jobs for those in the Waimak, new jobs in the Waimak and new businesses in the Waimak… Waimak companies that create the most jobs for Waimak residents would likely win contracts… Further factors which would be required to consider include the whole of life cost of a project, economic resilience and environmental sustainability. )
(Encourage local campaigns to Support, Shop and Eat Local)
I lobbied hard for change to the way ENC (Enterprise North Canterbury) market the district.
I am pleased that that advise has been taken and their website now has been improved.
Encourage more businesses to start up or move to the Waimakariri and employ locals
(Want to reverse the trend of local residents travelling into Chch to work, spending money in Chch… this is better for the local economy, plus logical from an environmental point of view… one resident said they spend $150 per week on fuel )
Reduce rates
(The district population is growing, many on fixed incomes.. 4.3% annual increases is unaffordable… will ask each Council department to reduce their budgets by 10%, if they can’t find those cost savings, get in outside analyst that can)
Council are the largest employer
(Employ more local residents)
More Local creative events – Fire and Ice – Amazing race – River carnival – Spring Festival etc
(Vibrant communities have vibrant events attracting visitors and making the district a better place to live, I am a Trustee for the community Group You Me We Us and we put on many of the events in the township and I know that successful events makes a huge difference to the local economy and township)
(Kaiapoi has the greatest potential to attract visitors, we need to leverage the river, the amount of eateries and the events around the river, and Kaiapoi’s proud history of being an important trading post for food and Pounamu… building existing events and developing new iconic events)
If I am elected, I want preschoolers to swim for free during school hours. Green Prescription holders would swim for free.
5 year average is 82 drownings per year in New Zealand. Many locals head into Chch to get free entry to Christchurch swimming pools. The minimal cost to encourage young ones to learn to swim locally is a no brainer and should be encouraged by Council.
If I am elected, I want to increase some library charges.
Waimakariri income from all libraries is only 200K. Reviewing some charges, ie out of towners can use our libraries cheaper than a rate payer. This charge is to increase along with other lending charges which in some instances are 30% of Christchurch City Council library charges.
Involve community more
(Many situations where community consultation is a tick box process, I want community to be more involved)
Creative, Vibrant Communities
(Wheelchair friendly BBQ tables in parks, food forests in parks, unique seating, think outside of the box is to be the norm)
The First Living Wage District
There are only 19 Council staff currently earning less than $22.75 as at 1st September 2021.
Providing a wage increase for this small number of people is a no brainer and sets the right example for all Waimakariri businesses.
(The Living Wage has emerged as a response to growing poverty and inequality that continues to hold back so many Kiwi workers, their families and our economy. The Living Wage concept is very simple, yet such a powerful alternative – it’s the hourly wage a worker needs to pay for the necessities of life and participate as an active citizen in the community. It reflects the basic expenses of workers and their families such as food, transportation, housing and childcare, and is calculated independently each year by the New Zealand Family Centre Social Policy Unit. )
Brent Cairns – Council and Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community board
My strengths-
Connections with the community, my ability to get on with a wide range of people. In regards to the Trust I set up for the Food Forest, I chose people with far better skills than I to make this community legacy project a success. I am passionate about Kaiapoi, I am passionate about helping people and I want to see Kaiapoi as the best river town in New Zealand. Making it a town where everyone wants to visit, where everyone is proud to live and work.