Jack Yan backs call for radical city changes made by Wellington branch of Property Council Wellington, September 8

Mayoral candidate and Wellington businessman Jack Yan has declared his full support for the principles and recommendations being put forward to transform the heart of Wellington by leading urban developer Ian Cassels, president of the Wellington branch of Property Council New Zealand in the newly released publication The Future Of Our Capital.

'I congratulate Wellington's Property Council members on challenging the status quo and for fronting up with a thoroughly inclusive, transparent, broad ranging and solutions-based approach to getting Wellington back on track and up where it belongs as the jewel of New Zealand cities,' said Jack Yan today.

'As a productive businessman I'm in the Mayoral race because I likewise want to put a different internationally directed face on Wellington.

'To begin with I back the establishment of a CBD Board for Wellington's inner city of the kind recommended by Property Council NZ. Before talk about intensifying residential developments in outlying suburbs gets out of hand the focus has to turn back to the hidden and untapped strengths and backbone of the inner city.

'As Ian Cassels said at the launch of The Future of Our Capital, Wellington is currently a city in which the citizens have no compass, no crew and no captain. As a two-term Mayor for Wellington I can promise Wellingtonians I won't hide behind city officials and I won't allow elected councillors to become life-appointed mouthpieces embedded in the bureaucratic woodwork.

'The order of the day has to be urgency—from leading on an earthquake-related built heritage plan through to a strategy for using Wellington’s grossly underutilized built environment to creatively generate more inner city living and working spaces, more business and foot traffic, and a greener, stronger Wellington.

'All of the points being made about the part that the private sector has to play in unleashing Wellington’s latent potential are points that have been part of my campaign from day one. Opening up decision-making and planning processes to people beyond the inner circles of the council, through the likes of a CBD Board and a fully functioning Urban Design Panel of the kind known to all other world-leading cities, is a must. We don’t have them now, but we will have them in the first 100 days of my Mayoralty.

'I join Ian Cassels in saying the current pattern of governance in Wellington has to stop. Throwing grenades at the feet of people who are dedicated to the success of Wellington has to stop. The next generation of Wellingtonian, younger people like myself who fully comprehend the ICT landscape and urban issues, have to step up because the "same old, same old" isn't working.

'As stated at my most recent campaign event, held in Cuba Street, my vision for Wellington is to enlist the real talent of Wellington, the real wisdom of Wellington to prepare for a next stage of growth under the banner of Your Wellington.The concept for my vision is that I will tirelessly and endlessly promote Wellington as Your Wellington, a Wellington where your ideas count, where you are represented and a Wellington for your kids and your kids' kids.'

ENDS

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