2025 Candidate Survey
City & Otago Regional Council election survey for 2025. We appreciate those candidates who responded for taking the time to complete these questions.
Q1 - Candidate names - see Q7 text.
Q7: Other Comments
| Anna Knight | I'd also like to see support for the proposed Coastal Communities Cycle Connection, as northern communities have historically been neglected despite more people living there than on the Peninsula (5640 residents cf. 3579, according to the 2018 Census figures). |
| Brent Weatherall | |
| Rose Finnie | I have been somewhat aware of the Tunnels Trail Initiative, but wouldn't claim to be an expert. I'm open to learning more about it. I believe investing in cycleways is key to developing a more liveable city. |
| Mickey Treadwell | What the Tunnels Trail Trust has achieved in the Chain Hills cycle connection is truly awesome. Connecting up our existing cycleways not only invites tourism, it helps cement a range safer, healthier transport option in the city that can be used by people of all ages (and which might even free up a few car parks). This is an instance where the council can create so much good for the city by supporting those who are already doing the mahi. |
| Lily Warring | |
| Sarah Davie | I prefer the term 'shared offroad trail' to cycleway. I don't believe the intent for these trails is for cycles only? Connecting 'shared paths' is a priority. DCC should provide some funding to these projects and provide easement etc support to the Tunnels Trail Trust, enabling a privatepublic partnership. These partnerships open the door to additional funding opportunities, beyond the rate payer. They also facilitate the achievement of community ownership, value and onbudget projects. |
| Gretchen Robertson | DCC, NZTA/Waka Kotahi, community grants and private investment are the natural core partner funders of trail development. ORC should actively support initiatives that encourage a shift to active modes of transport. Central government must reconsider the level of investment it makes in active transport. Advocacy and lobbying for that change is an important Councillor role. |
| Rebecca (Bex) Twemlow | |
| Elliot Weir | |
| Andy McLean | |
| Heike Cebulla | As active transport is one of the most important aspects for mitigating climate change and impacts all pillars of well being we need to undertake any possible measure to make it attractive, safe and an incentive to move away from car dependency. Thank you to your vision and resilience this project will go ahead!! |
| Paul Pope DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL | As the current Chairman of the Otago Peninsula Community Board I have spent the last 12 years advocating for the Te Awa Otakou project. It has provided safe and accessible transport for motor vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. It hasn't always been easy, but through determination and consultation we have largely prevailed. The last 3 areas are now within the LTP, but its been tiresome to have it attacked as only a cycleway. It future proofs our tourism and community and all road users. |
| Kimberlee Wallace | I think sponsorship and community fundraising would be more beneficial. Communities also have a lot more buy in to things they actively participate in. Unfortunately the council is in a lot of debt and rate payers are feeling it. |
| Carmen Houlahan | We were going to fund it in carbon zero but we got told you only wanted seed funding of $50k a year |
| Christine Garey | If reelected I will do whatever I can to support the Tunnels Trail project and the interconnection of our trails as well as our cycleways through the city. My hope is that a general election with see the return of Waka Kotahi co funding that will enable this work to proceed at pace but in the meantime we need a Council that progresses these projects and understands the benefits safety, liveability (attracting migrants who will be responsible for future growth), tourism . |
| James Cockle | I fully support this project and I believe in improving active and public transport infrastructure and services. It saves money in the long run, reduces emissions and pollution, and improves health and quality of life. |
| Alan Somerville | I have said no to providing funding as this isn't included in the Long Term Plan 202434, but there are other ways ORC can help financially such as by waiving consent fees. Connecting the active and public transport networks makes both networks more accessible to everyone. |
| Ruthven Allimrac | |
| Cherry Lucas | Not funding in 2026. We need to receive cofunding from NZTA & that won’t be received in 2026 |
| Hoani | |
| Andrew Whiley | Government funding is required to accelerate a lot of the cycling infrastructure the city should have. |
| Andre Sintmaartensdyk | |
| Cheryl Neill | |
| Sophie Barker | |
| marian poole | DCC finances are already stretched. Rate rises are a significant hurdle for a lot of households. While cycling is a positive contributor to wellbeing and to Dunedin's tourism market, there are many residents whose wellbeing is being negatively impacted by cost of living and climate change. A lot of the most vulnerable cannot afford a bike and see cycling as a luxury. My priorities include healthy housing, improvements to infrastructure and access to community gardens and creative arts. |
| Andrew Sutton | As a councillor, I believe we should prioritise attracting cycle tourists to Dunedin by completing our regional tourism trails, which bring proven economic benefits. However, I would pause further investment in urban cycleways for now, given current financial pressures. Our focus must be on projects that deliver the greatest return for ratepayers and our city. |
| Brian Peat Mosgiel Taieri Community Board Member | You know my views for the Trail from Waihola to Dunedin. Well done with recent progress, 20 years wait is far too long as you know. The trail must be completed ASAP. It would then mean that the trails around Otago will either start or end in Dunedin. I know there has been substantial work carried on from my initial work with the Waihola to Dunedin section. Now that our Silverstream Planting Project is well underway, then this trail will be well received by the Taieri Community. Great work. |
| Bruce Thomas | |
| Paul Williams @ Wine Freedom | This trial initiative requires more time, energy and support from the DCC, ORC, the Otago community and central government. Your work is not only towards establishing a pathway for 'Cyclists', it is also investing in creating another valuable means of transport connection within our city. It seems that too many barriers have been placed in front of such a creative and worthy ambition. Not only is this championing alternative transport options. It is also championing our unique assets. Paul |
| Mandy Mayhem | It is important to provide a connected cycling network, so residents of the city have safe multi modal options. Imagine families being able to ride across town and connect to the Te Ara shared pathway. I am disappointed in the councils vote not to progress the Albany street connection. A vital link. Imagine connecting the Clutha gold trail all the way into the city, also to the Central rail trail and North coast too. Massive tourism opportunity.The longer we wait, the more expensive to create. |
| Hilary Calvert | |
| Alex King | A cycle tunnel to take the puff out of the hill at Caversham would be a fantastic asset for our city. Working together, the councils and the trails trust can do this. It is great cycling infrastructure which will let thousands of Dunedinites experience the joy of cycling. It will help with our carbon goals, and be another drawcard for cycle tourists to experience Dunedin. I am 110% behind the tunnel and have been for years. Thanks to the trust for your mahi on this. |
| Sue Todd | For me South Dunedin is top priority, we cant have people living with sewage in their back yard. It would be great to have the Tunnels Trail project completed but Public money has to be prioritised. |
| Athol Bayne | Tunnel history needs to be throughly checked as work in the past during wartime for use as magazine may not have been done correctly and unrecorded side tunnels may exist. Does tonnage stored equal tonnage removed. Side tunnels may have been sealed old ammunition may have been deemed to expensive to remove and just sealed off. |
| Baza McLellan | Finishing the connection from Dunedin CBD and Queenstown is an absolute must. It would seem so crazy to get this far and stop. NZs cycle ways are know world wide and their popularity with only increase over time. I'm sure people will use it to commute. It will be faster than the roads at peak traffic times. |
| Malcolm Anngow | The Council should provide some funding. There are many other funding options, and this funding should be the Trust's main focus especially when the council debt is so high. My main concern is by delaying the completion of the trail means we as a city will continue to miss out on a substantial wave of tourists visiting our city. The traditional tourism areas in Otago are being swamped with visitors so we should prepare the cities facilities to take on any overflow and $$$ that will come. |
| John Chambers | |
| Amy Taylor | This initiative has the potential to generate a great deal of tourist interest and income, as well as being a very enjoyable past time for locals. I would like to see at least part of the route accessible to wheelchair users and others with mobility limitations. |
| Conrad Stedman | All for funding these type of projects when there is money available, but until Surrey Street is sorted as a priority for human dignity. |
| Steve Walker 🚲 | It’s a travesty to me that the cycling infrastructure momentum the city has created over the last 6+ years has been so savagely paired back by this Council, with the Tunnels Trail project being particularly hard hit. With the current lack of vision and investment we continue to be viewed as an embarrassment by neighbouring cycleambitious councils / regions & carry on being seen as the proverbial ‘missing link’ in a growing and worldrenowned network of cycle trails agonisingly out of our reach! |
| Phil Glassey | Good work, Fully support. My only reservation is the ongoing stability and maintenance required for the tunnels. Are ongoing maintenance costs expected to come from the Councils or will the trust fund these?. |
| Doug Hall | Yes, I support Council funding for the Tunnels Trail project, provided it is done in a responsible and staged way. The trail has clear benefits for Dunedin: it improves safe cycling and walking connections, encourages tourism, and celebrates our city’s heritage through the tunnel restoration. These are longterm assets that will continue to add value to our community. |
| Duncan Eddy | Completing the Port Chalmers to Waitati leg of the Coastal Connection should be a priority in the next 3 years. |
| Jett Groshinski | |
| Evelyn Robertson | Just build it already! |
| Jen Olsen | I strongly support active transport as a way to reduce emissions and give people more options to get about the city. I also support sustainable tourism initiatives, such as cycling. |
| Danny Hailes | |
| Richard Knights | |
| Andrew Simms | This project can be delivered as a partnership between the council and the community. The Tunnel Trail needs to be seen as a completely stand alone issue from inner city cycleways. The trail will be an invaluable recreational, commuting and tourism asset. Not a single car park will be lost! You have my full, unqualified support. Dunedin can no longer be isolated from the network of trails in the South. The work your trust has done for decades is an exemplar, and you deserve every success Andrew |
| Barbara Olah | I'm not against develiping cycling infrastructure per se but believe that in the current economic climate with cost of living pressures on households, the Council should prioritize spending on essential services to the wider community, including better public transport infrastructure. Not everyone can or wants to cycle and the economic benefit through tourism of existing cycle ways is yet to be realised. |
Detailed breakdown of responses.