Brent Cairns – Where Community First.
As a Waimakariri District Councillor, my portfolios are Community Development and Wellbeing, Promotions, Town Centres and Business, I chair Community and Recreation meetings where we hear staff reports about libraries, swimming pools along with what’s happening in our community, Access group, Welcoming communities, Migrants, Youth, Reserves, Cemetaries etc. I will also chair the East and West Mixed Use Business Working Group.
I am appointed to the Woodend Sefton Community Board and attend the Kaiapoi Tuahiwi Community Board meetings
I like to attend the monthly Kaiapoi and Rangiora museum meetings, as well as Waimakariri Access group, Road Safety, Migrants, Property, Food Secure North Canterbury, Welcoming Community plan meetings, Youth Action plan meetings, Kaiapoi Promotion and Oxford Promotion meetings along with Pegasus Residents Group monthly meetings to name a few.
Checking my diary, in the past year I attended over 1152 meetings and events and that doesnt include responding to calls and emails from residents.
What has Council achieved:
- In the last 20 years invested $100m million in 3 waters, with a budget of an additional $139million to be spent in this 10 year LTP. Much has been spent in Kaiapoi on pipes and pumps to reduce the risk of future flooding events, with more to be done in Waikuku, Woodend and Tuahiwi.
- Pegasus Community Centre has been designed and out for tender.
- Plans to upgrade the Kaiapoi bridge ballustrading, thanks to the wonderfully generous bequest of Harry Harper.
- Twenty Elder persons housing units to be built on Courtney Drive, Kaiapoi.
- East and West MUBA Working Group has been established to consider the future of this land.
- Updating Parking bylaws, along with many other bylaws.
- Woodend to Ravenswood walking and cycling connection.
- Woodend improvements to coincide with NZTA work on the bypass.
- Kaiapoi river works to improve accessibility for rowers and other users of the river.
- Mayors Taskforce for jobs, a nationally funded program, which assists people to get into paid employment.
- Kaiapoi Community hub, working with groups the likes of Croquet Club and Menzshed group to move on to Courtney Drive site.
- Youth Action Plan development, to see what we are doing right and what we can do better for the youth in our district.
- Welcoming Community plans, a nationally funded program, to help people to live a healthy, safe life in our district.
- District Plan review is to come to Council later in June. This amongst other things considers rezoning of land, which will impact the growth of the district.
- District population is currently 72,000, with 82% living in their own home. In 2024 Council issued 743 building consents.
However there is still lots to do…
- Sefton Hall is in need of replacement.
- Kendal park facilities need upgrading, as do other reserves. There needs to be a stocktake of facilities and establish priorities
- We replace a toilet a year, but some toilets the likes of Waikuku beach, which are set to be replaced in 2052 could be in need of reviewing, as do whether we should have changing facilities.
- Accessibility of Woodend, Pegasus and Ravenswood, ie footpaths.
- Kaiapoi could do with a coummunity hall.
- Better utilize the Kaiapoi regeneration zones. There is a lot of bare land that could be utilised.
- The list of wants from the community is virtually endless.
I am honoured and proud to serve Waimakariri residents and I do work hard to do the very best job I can.
About Me
I’m married to Shirley, with the amount of time I spend at meetings and events around the entire district… there is no way you could do this role without a supportive partner. Shirley often attends the events with me… we have similar views as to what makes for a thriving vibrant community and its all about being out and about and listening to the people and their needs. Thank you Shirley
Shirley and I are proud parents to three amazing sons and we have three grand children. Together, we run a business, which has exported to 15 countries.
Why I’m Standing Again
I’ve been actively campaigning for Kaiapoi and the eastern parts of the district and have been doing that for years. I have built many relationships with people and groups in the community and would not like to let them down by walking away and not continuing the advocancy on their behalf.
As I often say:
“I’m less ‘Houee’ and more ‘Doeee.’”
Waimakariri is one of the fastest-growing districts in New Zealand, and with that growth comes real pressure — on infrastructure, on services, and on rates.
We need to:
Create more local jobs so fewer people have to commute
Be fiscally responsible investing in facilities and infrastructure for replacement and growth
Think creatively about how we serve our growing population.
My Promise
I have the energy, passion, drive, experience, to put community first.
I have literally put the community ahead of so many things in our lives, to turn up at meetings and events so as to hear what people want and need.
Thank you for your support, and for your vote.
– Brent Cairns
The following images show us out and about in the Waimakariri
