Paekawakawa / Southern General Ward candidates

Question: Who am I?

Nureddin Abdurahman: My name is Nureddin Abdurahman. I'm standing for Wellington City Council, Southern Ward, Paekawakawa. This is the area that includes Brooklyn, Island Bay, Berhampore and the mighty Newtown.

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

Nureddin Abdurahman: The skills and the strengths that I bring to council is the lived experience of working class. As an ex-taxi driver and Uber driver, as a father of three kids who play sport, I know what families go through in this city. I know what it means to be working class. That is the kind of experience I bring to the table at the Council.

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

Nureddin Abdurahman: Over the last three years, I have proven to be listening to my community. That is what I have done when it comes to Wellington Airport share sale, when the city council proposed. It's also when I did similar thing on Reading Cinema. I have done similar on Ōwhiro before, with Ōwhiro Bay communities, and Newtown and Berhampore and Brooklyn. I have worked with residents’ associations and residents in raising community issues and their voice.

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

Nureddin Abdurahman: The key challenge for our city is affordability. People are really struggling. A lot of people lost a job because of the Central Government's push against the working people. It's also the rates rise in our city. It's becoming unaffordable. The local government funding model is broken. But when we have an opportunity, how we can spend the money wisely. That is why it's important in this election. People use the opportunity of electing the right people to council so those challenges can be addressed. That is the opportunity.

Question: Who am I?

Laurie Foon: Kia ora. Ko Laurie Foon ahau. I'm standing for re-election as councillor for Paekawakawa/Southern Ward. My whānau and I have lived in Berhampore for over 20 years and we really love our diverse community and the easy access we have to nature.

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

Laurie Foon: I'm an experienced councillor and I'm proud to have served this term as Deputy Mayor. I've been the pioneer of an ethical fashion business in Aotearoa. I'd say I'm a constructive team player, with proven experience in turning vision into action.

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

Laurie Foon: I work hard to stay connected and accessible to my local community, and I will continue seeking to gain deeper understanding of their views. I also take into account our mana whenua and Māori perspectives, in line with our city's Tākai Here agreement. I consider those without a voice, such as our children and future generations, also when making decisions.

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

Laurie Foon: The significant challenge we face is the changing climate and extreme weather events that are becoming the new normal as a result of our greenhouse gas emissions. But the opportunity lies in the power of our community to create a vibrant, innovative, world-leading, sustainable city for everyone.

Question: Who am I?

Donald McDonald: Hello about Donald McDonald tōku ingoa. Donald McDonald or Mac done waiting. Please vote Donald, Mayor Wellington and Southern Ward general. The bible says end times is here. Go to heaven if I do, god commands. Jesus coming soon. You might get his reward. And I've got an update. The last great disaster, earthquake. Like everyone, can't do better. Stick with me one short page.

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

Donald McDonald: My strengths - I am zero honest like everyone. The next council will equal me. I am expert, compare large numbers. Aotearoa. Math describe details. Let's face it, society government is all about greedy me. Houses and cars, you gamble and alcohol, the time waster. Noisy means trouble hearing.

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

Donald McDonald: My communities – I stand for log-job. Fix answer. Do the right. Honest, timely, succinct. Proper sign off. But nothing, they don't do it. No fix. Donald, eight times while council, never clear answer. Refuse. Donald straight talk. Don't assume. They didn't do it. They didn't do it. Don't assume.

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

Donald McDonald: Challenge is population. Petrol cars and electric. All end. The roads will be wipe out pedestrians. Phone allowance. For age 16 years. Reasonable talk text data. Participate. The calendar I'm afraid is stupid. So easy for our child. Donald, five weeks times six days. Easier. Thirty days sync. Appointment easier. Enough to live on. Samaritan and community centres. Carry on. 845 900. Go Donald. McDone. The last great disaster. Can't do better.

Question: Who am I?

Paula Muollo: Hello everybody, my name is Paula Muollo and I'm running in your next local body elections in the Southern Ward / Paekawakawa as an independent candidate to represent you all around the council table.

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

Paula Muollo: I'm born and bred in Island Bay and I'm of Italian heritage. I started my career working at BNZ Finance and then went on to manage 85 staff at Hotel Raffaele, and now currently I'm a successful real estate agent at Harcourts, where I listen to the requirements of people every day. I believe the values of honesty, integrity, hard-working ethics, determination, common sense, a pragmatic approach and business are what we need with my negotiation skills around the council table.

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

Paula Muollo: I'm here to represent you all, no matter what your views are. I would like to focus on zero rate increases with the cost-of-living crisis for many, focusing getting back to basics on our infrastructure and core spending, safer and cleaner streets, access for all modes of transport in our city and bringing Wellington back to that vibrant, positive city we once knew and loved.

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

Paula Muollo: Our key challenges here in Wellington right now are our ageing infrastructure – the wastewater, the pipes, the roading. We need to work with Government on better ways to fund this moving forward, so ratepayers are not footing the bill, and also earthquake strengthening is a big issue. However, our opportunity here lies with tech companies, bringing vibrant, bringing back our vibrant city, bringing events to Wellington, making it the coolest little capital rated by Lonely Planet again. It's also one of reinvention. It's not about just fixing what's broken, it's also about imagining what's possible.

Question: Who am I?

Mike Petrie: Hi, my name is Mike Petrie and I was born and raised and live in this amazing little capital city, Wellington. I'm the owner of Cuba Barbers on Cuba Street. I've worked in the hairdressing and music industry for more than 35 years. I live in Newtown and I'm standing for the Southern Ward, Paekawakawa, and I'm a fiercely proud Wellingtonian.

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

Mike Petrie: I bring a wide range of skills and strengths to the Council. My communication skills and agreeable nature, combined with years of customer-focused service, will be an asset to Wellington. I'm dialled into Wellington's creative culture and I'm very passionate about the arts. And I want to see Wellington thrive in this sector moving forward. I am perfectly positioned to be able to bring the voice to this community, to the Council, as well as that of the people of Paekawakawa.

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

Mike Petrie: The first job of a councillor is to listen. That's how you understand what matters and make better decisions. The Southern Ward needs strong, committed representation. I'll hold regular clinics, be available online, by phone and in person.

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

Mike Petrie: The challenge is to get the right people with the right mix of skillsets around the table to affect change. That's why it's vital to vote for independent candidates like me, so your voice is heard, not just a party line. The opportunity is for everyone to have a say by simply voting. By voting for someone independent, by voting to get your city back, to make it more affordable, more vibrant, more attractive to live in, and let's try and get the mojo back.

Question: Who am I?

Kevin Zeng: Hi, my name is Kevin Zeng. I'm coming here standing to be a councillor, a Wellington councillor in Southern Ward General. I'm independent.

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

Kevin Zeng: I'm for, standing for the business environment. Past 20 years, I run two businesses at the same time. One is a retail shop. It's a two-dollar shop that runs in Newtown, next to the Newtown School. Second one is a Wellington-based Chinese community newspaper. Both businesses still survive. Another one of these things, I run - I'm the leader - of Chinese community group, more than 20 years. This is, I got a strong leadership and sense of the business view.

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

Kevin Zeng: I'm running the business in Newtown for 25 years. Newtown is an international town – a United Nations. People from China, Philippines, Indian, Middle East, I can hear lots of different group people's view. If I come to the city council, I can make their voice to the city council and make a balance for all of the group people to make the city council decisions more close to the community. I'm the Chinese leader, so I can hear lots of different group view.

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

Kevin Zeng: Last couple years, I'm running a retail shop and my feeling and my customer feeling – Newtown is not safe than before. Lots of shoplifting, lot homeless, and Newtown is very hard to find parking. So this is why I come to the city council. I will try to bring the police office to come to Newtown, to come working together with the Newtown community, and a sense of more parking for the business centre.