About Jackie
Candidate Statement
I'm a proud born-and-bred Hamiltonian. I care deeply about the future of our city and your family's welfare.
We're facing serious challenges: $1.25 billion in debt and rapidly rising rates. We need determined leadership to eliminate wasteful spending, reduce the pressure on ratepayers, and develop effective partnerships with neighbouring councils, businesses, government, and Tainui to create long-term solutions.
With over three decades in public service, from teaching to senior roles in central government, I bring leadership, governance experience, and a proven ability to get things done - punctually and within budget. I know how to ask tough questions, challenge poor decisions, and stay focused on sensible outcomes. I am principled and act wisely.
My priorities are: build a thriving future-focused city that is financially strong, invest in our inner city creating a heart for Hamilton, and deliver core services well - building houses, infrastructure, and community wellbeing. Experience. Integrity. Action.
Candidate Profile Questions
1. What would be your top three priorities for Council the next three years?
We need a Council that is professional, acts with integrity, and has the skills to run the fastest growing city in New Zealand. If the Council gets these three priorities in order, we can deliver real results for our city.
- Financial stability and accountability – cut unnecessary spending and balance the books.
- Smarter decision making – make decisions based on good data and evidence with clearly outlined trade-offs and impacts of decision choices. Decisions must be defendable, sensible and consequences clearly understood.
- Better communication – be open, honest and clear around the Council table, and with the public. This will create more trust and confidence.
Strong effective leadership and governance from Council will result in sensible decisions to protect core services that matter most to communities – parks and libraries, infrastructure investment that makes sense and unblocks congestion, housing development that works including in our inner city, and environmental resilience.
2. What is your aspiration for Hamilton Kirikiriroa?
I want Hamilton Kirikiriroa to be financially viable with a strong economy to attract investment into our city, which relieves the burden on our ratepayers, creates jobs and contributes to the livelihoods of our citizens. We should invest strongly in enhancing the inner city and riverbank, making these areas safe and attractive for people to visit, creating a greater a safe, vibrant welcoming heart for Hamilton. I would work hard to stronger social connections across the city – making sure our most vulnerable people feel supported and part of our community.
3. How do you think Council could best use opportunities to meet the key challenges we are facing?
The Council needs to work together making confident decisions building trust and confidence. The Council needs to explore more partnerships with Tainui, philanthropic and businesses to open up other avenues of financial support. We need to be innovative in how we generate income and where we spend our money to get the best results. The Council needs to communicate more effectively around the Council table and do a better job of talking with the public. We need to share our challenges and invite community solutions to the table. We have smart creative world class citizens in Hamilton with great ideas ideas – we need to listen to them and bring their ideas to the table. I would bring future focused thinking to old challenges. Ill bring future focused thinking and look to proven ideas from around New Zealand and overseas that could work here too.
4. If there was one thing you could change about Hamilton Kirikiriroa immediately, what would it be?
I would fix our financial situation and rebuild trust that has been broken linked to the overspending. Right now we are making poor decisions without the right information and evidence. The dire financial position means we are living beyond our means and asking the rate payers to pay more for less, as debt servicing costs increase. Too often decisions are made without the proper evidence or long-term thinking. Ill bring a practical, principled voice to the Council table, demanding smart investment in essential services, community spaces that work for everyone, stronger social services partnerships, faster housing approvals, and a stop to the financial behaviour. It is time to prioritise what matters with the future vision firmly in the foreground of all thinking.
5. What qualities would you bring to Council that will help our city thrive?
I bring experience, integrity and action. I know Hamilton. I was born here and have lived here all my life. I am a proven changemaker with over 20 years of senior public service leadership. I have strong governance experience having sat on boards managing millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money and being accountable to the public of New Zealand – you. I have delivered results that have shaped education, protected children, and supported communities through times of change. I bring business skills and entrepreneurship having started two businesses and won a business award for one. I know how effective decisions are made that are financially viable, good for our communities and future focused. I can have the tough conversations and make the hard calls. I deliver results that work - on time and within budget. I know how to lead Hamilton and improve the livelihood of our people and communities.
6. Where can voters go to learn more about you?
Social Media https://www.facebook.com/
Email: jackieforhamilton@gmail.com
Phone: +64 274883905
Content supplied by candidate.