Councillor's Comment: Growing Together - A Year of Action and Advocacy

As summer approaches, it’s a good time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the opportunities ahead. Serving the Whakatū Nelson community as a Councillor is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I’m proud to share some highlights from this year’s work.

One standout achievement has been advancing Council’s forestry transition. Leveraging the Right Tree Right Place Taskforce work, we completed public consultation via the Long Term Plan, and the community gave resounding support for transitioning from commercial forestry to permanent, biodiverse forests in our conservation and landscape reserves. Council’s unanimous adoption marked a significant step forward, and the Forestry Transition Working Group will guide this critical work.

Housing has remained a pressing issue, and I’ve led Council’s Community Housing Acceleration Taskforce. We’ve recommended grants to six community housing providers and iwi trusts, paving the way for more than 60 additional healthy, secure, affordable homes to be delivered within the next three years. We commissioned a housing vulnerability gap analysis to better understand where the biggest issues are and options to address them.

On the biodiversity front, we made meaningful progress in pest and cat management. Through the Regional Pest Management Strategy review, stronger controls on wilding conifers and feral cats were introduced. I’ve worked alongside colleagues from Nelson and Tasman Councils to advance Cat Management Bylaws, to promote responsible pet ownership and reduce stray and feral cats – a win for our native wildlife!

This year also brought reminders of the importance of standing up for humanity and equity. Local and global responses to the devastating conflict in the Middle East and genocide in Gaza, and the unity shown during the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti reinforced my gratitude for a community that speaks up and stands together. These moments remind us of the power of collective action and kotahitanga (unity).

Looking ahead, my focus is on ensuring Council prioritises the long-awaited East-West Cycleway, a vital transport link that schools and parents have strongly advocated for over two decades; hearing community views and aspirations for Nelson’s Climate Change Strategy and Regional Waste Plan; and supporting housing development in our city centre and advancing plans for the long-overdue library/civic hub.

I want to thank Council staff and people in our community for your passion, ideas, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future. Wishing you all a happy, healthy summer with time to recharge and enjoy our beautiful region.