Kāpiti Coast District Council candidate commits to real community engagement
Asher Wilson-Goldman for Kāpiti Coast District Council
Asher Wilson-Goldman, candidate for Districtwide Councillor, has released his plan for Kāpiti Coast District Council to
genuinely engage with and be connected to our communities.
“I work regularly across the country with councils and community groups, so I know the most successful councils are
those embedded in and supportive of their communities,” said Asher Wilson-Goldman, “councils that think they have to
control everything themselves tend to produce the worst outcomes,”
“If you elect me as your Districtwide Councillor, I will lead an improved programme of engagement with all parts of our
Kāpiti community, so everyone can have their voice heard,”
“We need to aim higher, so our communities contribute to and are part of all of the decisions we make.”
“It’s time for a Council that listens and takes action - not one that just sits back and hopes for the best,”
“It’s not good enough that most people only hear from their councillor for the few months before an election. Local
government has to engage all the time, not once every three years.”
If elected this year, I will:
Use modern technology to listen to and engage with our residents in the digital spaces we’re already using, like the
many active Facebook groups for Kāpiti’s communities.
Be available for our primary and secondary schools, so our kids voices are heard in the halls of power, and they grow up
engaged and enthused about their ability to make change in the place they live and play. I will also invite our Youth
Council members to join me on school visits.
At least one full day every month, be available for residents to drop-in and visit me in their local library, community
centre, or even cafe, so they can find out what council is doing and have their say without having to come to Council
offices. I’ll encourage my council colleagues to come along too.
Implement regular visits to our retirement villages, to learn from and talk with our older residents about what matters
for them.
Stop using working groups and reviews as a way to avoid and delay making tough decisions, and only use them as tools
when there is a genuine willingness to implement their findings and recommendations.
“No single councillor knows everything, but if we listen to and engage with our communities properly, we can combine our
knowledge to build a stronger district for everyone,” said Asher Wilson-Goldman.
Read more about Asher Wilson-Goldman’s plans for strong Kāpiti communities at www.asherforkapiti.nz.
ends