Skip to main content

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 ways of Council setting an example and leading by example for reducing CO2 emissions and mitigating impacts.
There are obviously many more.

  1. I don’t think its necessary for council staff to be using aircraft/flying
  2. LED Streetlighting
  3. Composting program District Wide
  4. Council staff should favour EV taxis, walking and cycling/(electric motor if needed) around the CBD
  5. Council vehicle fleet should upgrade to EV when needing replaced including refuse vehicles (Favour contractor that will take the environment seriously)
  6. Council should utilize local businesses at all times even if there is a slightly larger monetary “cost” (Favour contractors that have policy and procedures around caring for the environment)
  7. Shared garden spaces - fruit and veg, and share and swap them with local neighbours – less travel to supermarket
  8. Increase coastal shipping’s share of inter-regional freight to 30 percent of tonne-kilometers by 2040?
  9. Increase rail’s share of freight to 30 percent of tonne kilometers by 2040?
  10. Planting Natives
Photo - Iain Robertson
  • Passenger Transport
  • Policy 
  • Parking 
  • District Planning
  • Infrastructure design
  • Travel Behaviour Change 
  • Walking and Cycling
See more about the impact of climate change here: https://climate.nasa.gov/
Photo - Iain Robertson

Popular posts from this blog

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.      
Read more

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  Reduce wear a
Read more

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
Read more

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.
Read more

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
Read more

My Speech at Whangarei Youth Space

Iain Robertson Whangarei Youth Space My Speech at Whangarei Youth Space
Read more

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.
Read more

Things that I don't stand for:

- Ludicrous proposals - False narratives & misinformation - Throwing all resources at only a few issues to attract votes - Financial mismanagement - "Back room" "deals"  Click here for Iain Robertson's Vision
Read more