“Find your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.”
First elected in 2019, I have served as Deputy Chair from 2020-2022 and as Chair of the Manukau Harbour Forum since 2020. In that time we have faced huge challenges – firstly a drought, then a pandemic, then the floods. Across those challenges, I have repeatedly seen Puketāpapa residents come together to help each other out.
It is an honour to represent the most diverse local board in Tāmaki Makaurau, and I love being able to eat food from different cultures every night, meet people from around the world at Wesley Market, and embrace over 180 cultures at the World of Cultures festival every year.
I have continued work to make Puketāpapa a safe place to get around for all, securing Central Government funding for improving Hendry Avenue, and have worked with our board to increase funding for protecting and enhancing our coast, awa, forests, and harbour. There is plenty more work to do in both of these spaces, as well as to ensure we get the rapid transit investment we need to support our growing population.
My work on the Manukau Harbour Forum has been highly rewarding, seeing rangatahi learn about sustainable leadership through our funded wānanga, pressuring the Governing Body to invest into better outcomes for the Harbour, building relationships with mana whenua and getting involved with community groups.
Please feel free to get in touch with me via email at any time – [email protected]
Mauri ora
Jon