CBD Businesses

If the residents of Mangakahia - Maungatapere elect me I want to ensure that business can excel throughout our district.

I want to also help the Whangarei CBD meet its potential which I believe is not happening.

I myself have first hand experience operating a CBD office running my business Direct Tech www.directtech.co.nz

I have other ideas for the CBD such as turning vacant lots into central living apartments. This is a place in our district where we can build up and house more residents, students, tourists. People in the CBD will bring life back into it.

Presently our Councils, take approximately $3m from our CBD (Properties included within Walton Street, Bank Street and Dent Street) on rates. Our business owners get very little support from Council for that money, with less than 800 carpark where Okara (a private development) has over 3,000 for the same size area, the CBD has no free rubbish collection and streets that are not kept clean. It is no wonder that our CBD is struggling.

The CBD is a community space, a business centre, an employment hub and so much more. Why is the Council milking it dry

As a company director I feel that something needs to change.
The overhead fees of rental spaces, wages, legislation versus a store’s daily earnings has grown disproportionately unfair and it's no wonder businesses are leaving the CBD like a ship taking on water.

As a community, I feel we should prioritize new policies to foster entrepreneurship and good business measures in Whangarei, which is why I would like to see the CBD business rates reduced over the next three years, with that money going into events and activities led by the business community to drive people back into the town. And yes that includes more parking.

Candidates preliminary list - My new Ward [2022]

In 2019 I was a candidate in Bream Bay for the Whangarei District Council. Iain Robertson I am now seeking election to represet all Whangarei residents by the people of the Mangakahia & Maungatapere area.

Seal Our Roads!

Sealing roads in the Whangarei District should be a priority and is essential for: Safety Reducing dust Less costs long term for ratepayers via rates and their vehicle expenditure. Less costs for the Whangarei District Council long term Beter for the environment and climate change - Electric Vehicles need smooth undusty roads... How can we do it: Change Council with a new vision and new people Take roading seriously like councils used to in the past Don't charge residents $4000 +GST in targeted rates Even though most rural properties dont recieve many of the council ammendenties seen in town! See my other post: Poor Unsealed Road Maintenance In addition to that I would want to lobby to central government to make State Highway One at least 2 lanes (Each direction) all the way to Whangarei with median barriers. This will reduce collisions vehicles that travel slowly such as trucks, buses and motor-homes will be more comfortable Safe passing...

Climate Change

In 2014, New Zealand contributed 0.17 per cent to the world's total greenhouse gas emissions. However, on a per capita basis, New Zealand is a significant emitter. Photo - Iain Robertson New Zealand is a global leader and a hot tourist destination for the world and this small country can definitely show the world how its done - has done with many issues throughout history. Photo - Iain Robertson Local Government has a significant role to play in climate change. I want to continue and add to the current initiatives that the Whangarei District Council are working on. Our communities are to face sea level rise/flooding, coastal erosion, increased extreme weather events, coastal inundation, landslides and droughts. The council must lead by example rather than point the finger by measuring and reducing emissions in the public organization and insuring our communities infrastructure is able to cope. I think all of the following are achievable w...

Poor Unsealed Road Maintenance

Routine maintenance of unsealed roads shouldn't look like this: Potholes, rutting and corrugation in the surface clearly means these roads have "failed" Drainage improvements and strengthening should be pretty standard practice on these types of roads and maintenance should occur more efficiently and more often. Photo Taken by Resident Its as though elected council are clearly owned and managed by the executives in the council who are actually employees. Patch ups are only supposed to be temporary solutions for a couple of days, not months. Please consider the next elected members of the Whangarei District council who may have conflicts of interest ("contracting mates") doing work on behalf of the council. Somebody is getting rich, not just Tyre shops! Photo Taken by Resident Photo Taken by Resident

Working Together & Trust

Being a bee keeper I get to see thousands of bees needing to work together in order to survive. Survival is a pretty good incentive to work together -- and in order for Whangarei to prosper we must work together. Bees have neither ego nor ulterior motives, Instead, they are totally focused on obtaining the goals for the betterment of the entire colony, not just specific individuals. As an IT entrepreneur, people put a lot of trust in me. I basically have a master key to their entire livelihoods, personal memories and information. To be in the IT field and to continue being successful people have to have great trust in me.

My Speech at Whangarei Youth Space

Iain Robertson Whangarei Youth Space My Speech at Whangarei Youth Space

What I want to Achieve [Vote Iain Robertson]

To put Mangakahia-Maungatapere Ratepayers first To continue any existing projects keeping costs within budget Open accountable Council with less bureaucracy Encourage economic success within Whangarei and specifically attracting businesses with job opportunities. To ensure preservation and enhancement of the environment I believe money spent on recreation should be treated as investments, not as expenditure. I am aware ratepayers expect their rates to benefit rural Whangarei and not only central Whangarei. I will fight for ratepayers wants and needs across Whangarei Vote Iain Robertson - Mangakahia-Maungatapere

3 Waters

Three Waters is a uniquely local issue, Ratepayers in every community have paid for water assets that are proposed to be being taken by Wellington, with the removal of local control. I will be visiting these assets on behalf of Whangarei ratepayers and meeting with affected Communities face-to-face. I say that people that are or will be considering the Three Waters proposals should do the same thing and get on the road to listen to local communities.

Vote NOW - The future is in YOUR HANDS

You can still vote in person as a special vote or hand in your voting documents at the Whangarei District Council Service Center 22A Rathbone Street Whangarei Vote NOW - The future is in YOUR HANDS

Vote Iain Robertson - Mangakahia-Maungatapere | Whangarei District Council

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