PCC Eastern Ward

Jasmine Taankink

Occupation: Union organiser and mum

Are you a union member/staff member? Yes

Have you previously been a union member? If so, when and where? I never worked somewhere where there was a union I could join.
Question 1) Do you support a living wage for all staff directly employed by the council? Yes
Question 2) Do you support a living wage for all contractors employed by the council? Yes
Question 3) Do you support a living wage for all staff employed by the council controlled organisations? Yes
Question 4) Do you support equal pay claims for relevant council staff (such as library assistants) and would you support working with Unions to advance these claims? Yes
Question 5) Would you support adapting council procurement policies to positively view contractors with union agreements? Yes
Question 6) Would you support adapting council employment policies to ensure all directly employed, contractors and staff of CCO’s have access to with union membership? Yes
Question 7) Do you support declaring a climate emergency? What role do you think Council can play in preventing climate change and mitigating its effects? Yes. The council needs to show leadership here. We need to improve cycle and walkways, advocate for cheaper and better public transport and ensure big players such as the council, contractors and businesses reduce their impact on the environment.
Question 😎 Under what circumstances would you support the sale of any council owned assets or organisations (or part thereof)? Very unlikely I would support. The council owning assets and running organisations means they belong to our community and should run in our interests. Once sold, we can’t ensure that.
Question 9) Do you support the privatization of council services? Would you support bringing currently privatized services back under direct council control? No to privatisation, yes to bringing them back under our control. Privatising things can reduce accessibility for those who need it. Question 10) What role do you think council plays in making sure that decent and affordable housing is available for all residents? Porirua City Council is an existing partner in the Porirua
Development which will see over 2000 houses built in my ward, Porirua East. The Council should advocate for more and better state housing and invest in council housing. With the state of the market, state and council housing are vital to the wellbeing of the community.
Question 11) (GWRC Candidates only) Do you support the establishment of a working group with relevant transport unions to regularly consult on aspects of the delivery of regional public transport services? N/a
Question 12) (GWRC Candidates only) Would you use your position on regional council to seek the repeal of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM)? N/a
Question 13) Can you demonstrate a commitment to working people and progressive politics? (please elaborate upto 200 words) Yes. For the last 5 years I’ve been privileged to work alongside fast food, cinema and hotel workers as an organiser at Unite. I work with people to build power in their workplaces so they can improve their working lives. Homes are a base for all of us. The housing market is out of control. That’s why I’ve been working alongside my neighbours at Housing Action Porirua to change the narrative around what housing should look like. We want to ensure any development in Porirua is fair for all.
Question 14) Is there any further information that we should take into account? No

Izzy Ford
Occupation: City Councillor
Candidate for: Mayor of Porirua and Councillor Eastern Ward
Are you a union member/staff member? No
Have you previously been a union member? If so, when and where? No

(for business owners only) Are there union agreements at your business/s?

Question 1)
Do you support a living wage for all staff directly employed by the council?
Yes

Question 2)
Do you support a living wage for all contractors employed by the council?
Yes

Question 3)
Do you support a living wage for all staff employed by the council controlled organisations?
Yes

Question 4)
Do you support equal pay claims for relevant council staff (such as library assistants) and would you support working with Unions to advance these claims?
Yes and Yes

Question 5)
Would you support adapting council procurement policies to positively view contractors with union agreements?
Yes

Question 6)
Would you support adapting council employment policies to ensure all directly employed, contractors and staff of CCO’s have access to with union membership?
Yes

Question 7)
Do you support declaring a climate emergency? What role do you think Council can play in preventing climate change and mitigating its effects?
Yes. The Council can continue to measure emissions, collate data, set goals to reduce emissions. Council is currently in the middle of developing Te Ao Hurihuri (ever changing world), to address the effects of climate change on the city.

Question 8)
Under what circumstances would you support the sale of any council owned assets or organisations (or part thereof)?
If the benefit to the rate payers outweighed the negatives.

Question 9)
Do you support the privatization of council services?
NO
Would you support bringing currently privatized services back under direct council control?
Again it would depend if the benefit outweighed the negative to our rate payers.

Question 10)
What role do you think council plays in making sure that decent and affordable housing is available for all residents?
The balancing act is ensuring quality homes for our expected growth are built and are not only fit for purpose but also suit our diverse demographic, Id love to see the implementation of a rates remission for first home builds, or central government incentivised grants to first home builds, also council exploring options of removing the GST component for rates. Council plays an active role in advocating so that current housing stock meets healthy standards, we have actively supported the governments bill for healthy housing.

Question 11) (GWRC Candidates only)
Do you support the establishment of a working group with relevant transport unions to regularly consult on aspects of the delivery of regional public transport services?

Question 12) (GWRC Candidates only)
Would you use your position on regional council to seek the repeal of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM)?

Question 13)
Can you demonstrate a commitment to working people and progressive politics? (please elaborate upto 200 words)
My commitment to ensuring our Council staff were paid a Living Wage shows my position. This year we were able to ensure that around 130 of our staff were moved to a Living Wage. Three years earlier, in our previous triennium, I had supported a motion to move our staff onto a Living Wage which resulted in our staff receiving the initial boost, but nothing budgeted for ongoing years. This year I worked alongside Ana Coffey to ensure that our staff not only received the Living Wage, but would receive the incremental rises each year to ensure they were able to function and actively participate in our society.
Question 14)
Is there any further information that we should take into account?
I’d like to think I am a someone who sees somethings needs doing and works to make sure it happens or at least raises the point and plants the seed. I don’t have all the answers, but will always make a point of finding the answers. I acknowledge that conveying the answers can be received both positively and negatively, but its still our jobs as elected members to pass the answers on. Ultimately, any of us who are elected are mandated by the people, and for me my loyalty is in serving the people that elect me.

Kylie Wihapi
Occupation: Porirua City Councillor
Candidate for: Eastern Ward
Are you a union member/staff member? No
Have you previously been a union member? If so, when and where? N/A
(for business owners only) Are there union agreements at your business/s?

Question 1)
Do you support a living wage for all staff directly employed by the council? Yes

Question 2)
Do you support a living wage for all contractors employed by the council? Yes

Question 3)
Do you support a living wage for all staff employed by the council controlled organisations?

Question 4)
Do you support equal pay claims for relevant council staff (such as library assistants) and would you support working with Unions to advance these claims?

Question 5)
Would you support adapting council procurement policies to positively view contractors with union agreements?

Question 6)
Would you support adapting council employment policies to ensure all directly employed, contractors and staff of CCO’s have access to with union membership?

Question 7)
Do you support declaring a climate emergency? What role do you think Council can play in preventing climate change and mitigating its effects?

Question 8)
Under what circumstances would you support the sale of any council owned assets or organisations (or part thereof)?

Question 9)
Do you support the privatization of council services? Would you support bringing currently privatized services back under direct council control?

Question 10)
What role do you think council plays in making sure that decent and affordable housing is available for all residents?

Question 11) (GWRC Candidates only)
Do you support the establishment of a working group with relevant transport unions to regularly consult on aspects of the delivery of regional public transport services?

Question 12) (GWRC Candidates only)
Would you use your position on regional council to seek the repeal of the Public Transport Operating Model (PTOM)?

Question 13)
Can you demonstrate a commitment to working people and progressive politics? (please elaborate upto 200 words)

Question 14)
Is there any further information that we should take into account? I was one councillor who voted in favour of the living wage. I support the kaupapa !