Takapū / Northern General Ward candidates

Question: Who am I?

John Apanowicz: My name is John Apanowicz, I'm a current Northern Ward city councillor for the Wellington City Council. I live in Ohariu Valley with my wife and two children. I'm a chartered accountant and professional director. I've sat on the City Council for a term of three years and I was on the Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board for the previous six years. Very active in the community and get out and about as regularly as I can, attending most of the community events and the community boards, as well as being a Rotarian in the area. Thank you.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

John Apanowicz: I've been a chartered accountant for over 25 years working in my own practice, contracting and consulting throughout Wellington. I've had extensive knowledge of most of the companies in Wellington and during my time as a city councillor in the last three years I've been the Deputy of the Long-Term Finance Committee, as well as sitting on the boards of Wellington NZ and also the Basin Reserve Trust. So I bring skills in business, finance, accounting, tourism and economic development. Thank you.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

John Apanowicz: As a voice for Wellington, I'm a current city councillor so I represent the Northern Ward and mixed with a lot of community groups who bring to me their information and their issues and their wishes for the City Council. I actively engage with all the community groups including the residents’ associations and organisations such as Rotary and Lions. These groups feed into what my decision-making process to ensure that I can make the best decisions for both the Northern Ward and the City Council.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

John Apanowicz: The key challenge for the city at the moment is the economy. The economy has been very flat over the last three-year period, which has influenced how people feel about the city and also how they feel about the Wellington region. One opportunity which comes through and has been enacted by the Council during this period is the opening of Te Ngākau Civic Square. Civic Square when it opens will be a masterpiece for Wellington and it will be create pride and also civic duty for all residents. And to be able to go back to the city library as well as the Town Hall and the Civic Gallery will make people very excited and very happy.

Question: Who am I?

Andrea Compton: Hi, my name is Andrea Compton and I'm running for councillor in the Northern/Takapū Ward as a true independent. I was born and raised in the northern suburbs and now I reside and raise my family in Tawa. I'm a chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience in the infrastructure industry, both internationally and in New Zealand.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Andrea Compton: The skills or strength that I would bring to council include, 20 years’ financial experience within the infrastructure industries, a common sense, pragmatic, win-win solution attitude and a desire to leave Wellington in a better place for future generations.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Andrea Compton: The ways that I'll ensure that community views are taken into account when making decisions include monthly constituent meetings throughout the ward, regular social media engagement and regular engagement with local community groups. I'll also ensure community submissions are given appropriate consideration before making decisions.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Andrea Compton: One key challenge for Wellington is the tension between rates affordability and maintaining our infrastructure. As a council we need to be more mindful with our spending to ensure there is enough to go around without putting pressure on our residents. One opportunity for Wellington is to utilise technology to harness this potential to benefit Wellingtonians in terms of efficient council services.

Question: Who am I?

Mark Flynn: G'day, I'm Mark Flynn and I'm standing for Wellington City Council in the Northern Ward. I'm a husband and father of two from Tawa and like many locals I know what it's like to juggle family life, work and try and get the odd sports game in here and there. I want a council that's efficient and keeps rates low.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Mark Flynn: I currently work in IT. I've worked in several large organisations, mainly in telecommunications and facilities maintenance, and my skills I bring are problem solving and making processes more efficient. And so I want to bring that practical common-sense approach to council.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Mark Flynn: First off, you've got to listen. I'll be active in the local community, not just at election time, but throughout my term. I'll be active in local meetings, I'll be out on the sidelines at sports and I'll be online. And I'll be practical and weighing my decisions based on evidence, not ideology.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Mark Flynn: Families and businesses are tired of paying more and getting less. Wellington City Council faces a serious debt problem, with debt forecast to be over 2.1 billion dollars by the middle of next year, that equates to 26 thousand dollars per household. But one opportunity we have is to invest wisely, spend smartly and grow the city.

Question: Who am I?

Michael Hill: Kia ora and greetings. I'm Michael Hill and I'm standing for the Takapū/ Northern Ward and the Tawa Community Board. I believe local government should serve people, not political agendas, nor ideology. I've lived in Wellington now for 25 years and raised my family here, and I love Wellington. I think it's a great place for intergenerational living.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Michael Hill: I have a lifetime of investment in public service and community safety at all levels. I've held senior roles in police and government agencies, and I've been accountable for delivering services, both locally and nationally. I'm passionate about getting the customer and stakeholders’ view into decision-making as that's how we get the best outcomes. I've got governance experience having worked on boards both in New Zealand and Australia.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Michael Hill: For me, it's making good decisions while really listening to the community. I create space for community groups and stakeholders to communicate, whether it's in public forums, local events or by contacting me personally. I've also worked closely with iwi operationally, and I really enjoy the insights that I've gained from that.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Michael Hill: It's time to explore bringing councils together without losing their identity or their voice. Let's work smarter. The key opportunity, let's reframe Wellington's story. We've got a lot to be proud of. We can lead in investment, environmental action and more affordable living. Our best days are ahead if we all join up and achieve this outcome.

Question: Who am I?

Ben McNulty: Kia ora, I'm Ben McNulty, I'm one of your current city councillors and I'm running for re-election in the Takapū/Northern Ward.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Ben McNulty: The skills and strengths that I'd bring to council are the ability to work across the table and to get things done. Earlier in the triennium I passed an action plan on the Johnsonville Mall, with 14 votes to 2. I've worked with Central Government to reform our dysfunctional heritage building laws and I got Frank Kitts Park out of stagnation and open to the public.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Ben McNulty: I'd consider my community's views when making a decision the way I always have by actively seeking those views out. The role of a councillor isn't just to make decisions in the chamber, it's to be that conduit to the communities – to let you know what's going on, to actually ask for input and to have our own ideas challenged. So I would go on as I always have by actively seeking out those views.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Ben McNulty: A key challenge for Wellington is replacing our pipes. Whilst this council has gotten on top of the issues with our leaks, we've been a bit woeful in replacing pipes, with only 650 metres replaced in Wellington versus 9.2 kilometres in Lower Hutt this year. So we need to see those numbers increase exponentially. A key opportunity for the city is this council election. We have new leadership in the Council, the new Chief Executive. You marry that with the right leadership around the table, the willingness to bring new ideas, disrupt the status quo. We can have a council that's more efficient and I genuinely believe we can deliver on the aspiration of Wellingtonians.

Question: Who am I?

Tony Randle: Hi, I'm Tony Randle and I'm a current councillor for the Takapū/Northern Ward and I'm standing again for 2025.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Tony Randle: I've lived in Johnsonville for over 30 years and have raised a family here. Also, I'm a city councillor and I’ve championed the local community, such as stopping the revenue grab that was putting parking meters into Tawa, Johnsonville and Newlands, and I protected parks in Johnsonville for the proposed cycleway early in my term. Most importantly, I'm the only Northern Ward councillor that has consistently challenged the high rates increases and the wasteful spending, and I want to continue to do that job for the community.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Tony Randle: I'm a non-party independent candidate. So I'm here first, last, and always for the community. As your councillor I've walked the talk as well by attending most residents’ meetings. I've even arranged public meetings for the Council to update our local community and I've answered dozens of questions and helped residents throughout my last three years. My byline is ‘Your local voice to the city’, and I want to continue to do that.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Tony Randle: We have a great city, but it's become unaffordable to live here. This has not been helped by this and previous councils increasing rates that have been needed for wasteful projects, such as cycleways. These projects are not even community focused. We have an opportunity to change direction and get a council focused on affordable services and meeting community needs – needs such as the new indoor rec centre that has been put into the facilities plan, but yet to be funded. I want to change direction to become a community-focused council.

Question: Who am I?

Joan Shi: Hi, I'm Joan Shi, a single mom of two lovely children who call Wellington home. Because Wellington is my children's hometown, I have a deep personal commitment to make this city better. And also we enjoy 13 lovely years living in this city. That's why I'm standing for the Northern Ward and the Mayoralty.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Joan Shi: The skills I can bring to this role includes truly listening, financial management, and also I have experience in working in international trade, NGOs and technology. I have a warm personality and easy to approach. In recent years, I have worked in Wellington as an IT developer, I also earned a degree in data science from Victoria University of Wellington.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Joan Shi: I have three ways to stay connected with my community. Number one, run regular clinics. Number two, frequent communication with the community leaders. Number three, attend the local events so I can engage directly with residents.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Joan Shi: One challenge facing Wellington City is that, at this moment, both the Central Government and the Local Government have limited funding in core infrastructure and social state housing. And simply relying on rate increases is not the correct answer. On the other hand, we also have opportunity, which is if we are open to change, we are willing to listen to people, different ideas and trade international investment and make good use of global talents, then we have a good chance to have a better Wellington.