About Matthew
Candidate Statement
I’m standing for Hamilton City Council because we need leadership that’s focused on long-term solutions, not short-term cuts.
As a homeowner, a renter in the past, and a business owner, I understand both the pressures people face and how Council decisions shape our daily lives.
I’m proud to call Hamilton home — and I want to help build a city that’s affordable, accessible, and genuinely liveable for everyone.
That means protecting essential services like libraries, pools, and public spaces, investing in infrastructure and planning for growth responsibly. It means listening to communities every step of the way, not just during elections, and attending all meetings and briefings for councillors.
I’m running as an independent, progressive candidate for the Hamilton West Ward. I’m not here to make a name for myself — I’m here to help make Hamilton a city worth living in.
Candidate Profile Questions
1. What would be your top three priorities for Council the next three years?
1. Putting people first in decisions
Too often, council conversations get bogged down in spreadsheets instead of focusing on the real-world impact on people. I want to bring the focus back to outcomes how transport, housing, and services actually affect daily life and make decisions that support a thriving, inclusive Hamilton.
2. Planning for a future that works
Good planning isn’t about grand visions or political wins it’s about doing the work so our city grows well and works for everyone. That means investing in infrastructure, protecting what makes Hamilton great, and ensuring our growth reflects the needs of our communities.
3. Strengthening public trust through real participation
People are more likely to trust Council when they genuinely feel part of the conversation. I want to see more collaborative, participatory decision-making. That means making space for real engagement, especially with those who aren’t always heard, and ensuring Council reflects the communities it serves.
2. What is your aspiration for Hamilton Kirikiriroa?
I want Hamilton Kirikiriroa to be a city where everyone feels at home and where people are heard, connected, and supported to thrive. A city where long-term thinking guides decisions, and communities are partners in shaping the future.
A city that’s accessible, climate-conscious, and built for people. A city where mana whenua, newcomers, young people, and long-timers all feel their voices matter.
That’s the Hamilton I want to help build — together.
3. How do you think Council could best use opportunities to meet the key challenges we are facing?
By working alongside the community, not just on their behalf.
Hamilton is facing big, long-term challenges, from climate adaptation and housing, to infrastructure and inequality. These won’t be solved by quick fixes or working in silos. Council needs to lead with collaboration, focus on relationships, and tap into the strengths and knowledge already in our communities.
We need to plan for the future we want, not just manage the problems of the present. That means investing in sustainable solutions, strengthening local voices in decision-making, and being brave enough to think beyond the next annual plan.
4. If there was one thing you could change about Hamilton Kiriririroa immediately, what would it be?
That more people felt heard and included in the decisions that shape our city.
Too often, people feel like council decisions happen to them, not with them. I would change how council engages with the community by working to implement participatory and deliberative democracy, as well as other tools that make it easier for people to have a say, and making sure that input genuinely shapes what happens next. Because a city that listens well plans well.
5. What qualities would you bring to Council that will help our city thrive?
I bring extensive experience in building connections within and between organisations, including reconnecting teams within organisations who previously felt isolated and unheard. I also bring a strong belief in the role of local government, and the importance of attendance at meetings, briefings, and workshops. If elected, being a councillor will be my primary job for the next three years.
6. Where can voters go to learn more about you?
Website: vote.matthewbeveridge.co.nz
Social media:
Email: vote@matthewbeveridge.co.nz
Phone: 022 599 3890
Content supplied by candidate.