Martin Calls for Constructive Campaign
Mayoral contender John Martin is calling for candidates in the October elections to take a constructive approach to campaigning.
"With less than seven weeks left it's important that Wanganui people are provided with the information they need to make informed choices about candidates," said Mr. Martin.
"Wanganui deserves to be able to have a genuine, reasoned debate about its future and this is the time to do that.
"With the candidates now nominated, they need to be able to campaign without fear of being subject to personal attacks by their rivals for office. The media also has a responsibility to ensure that all candidates' views were treated with respect. "We need good, clean, informative campaigns with candidates offering a range of issues, skills and ideas," said Mr. Martin.
Mr. Martin openly announced his candidacy at the beginning of the campaign, demonstrating a clear and strong commitment to becoming the next Mayor of Wanganui. He is not phased by candidates who may have left their nomination to the last minute for 'dramatic effect' and is looking forward to a challenging and constructive campaign for all candidates
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
MEDIA RELEASE DATE: 12.8.07
'Environment at stake, says Martin'
Wanganui's environmental future mustn't be sacrificed by political point scoring, says mayoral challenger John Martin. "It's time to get serious about our environment and the best way to do that is by working in partnership with individuals and organisations who are committed to ensuring future generations can enjoy the security and lifestyle advantages that have made our district such a special place," said Mr Martin.
"Instead we are seeing renewed attacks on the regional council by theVision group that has played fast and loose with so many of our key relationships over the past three years. The fact is, it has never been more important for Wanganui's elected representatives and Council staff to work closely with Horizons and our neighbouring district councils, as well as Iwi, conservation groups and individuals."He said he was concerned that at a time when many important regional management issues were being debated by Horizons councillors, Wanganui had effectively been reduced to one voice and one vote for much of the current term because of the poor attendance of Cr Brookhammer. "We have been well served by Cr Annette Main and she has repeatedly tried to establish a good dialogue with Wanganui's council, but that has been difficult when the mayor has taken such an aggressive stance, and the council has simply fallen into line.
"Mr Martin said the Vision dominated Council would leave a legacy ofenvironmental neglect and mismanagement. "There's been a focus on expensive new projects like the $250,000 spent over two years on the 'Heart of the City', with nothing to show for it. Yet here's also been an unwillingness, tinged with arrogance, to take responsibility for Wanganui's most precious asset – the environment.
"Wanganui needed to join the rest of the world in recognising that the way people live and work would change within the next 10 years, he said. "We need a council that can plan for that. It's not good enough to toss responsibility for river management and flood protection to Horizons and then blame them for any impact on rates; this is an issue that will not go away.
"Mr Martin said the potential of the port to play a role in the likely resurgence of coastal shipping needed to be protected, and local and neighbourhood amenities like swimming pools and community halls shouldn't be run down or sold off at a time when soaring transport costs will restrict people's ability to travel. "These will be urgent issues for me as mayor and I'll move quickly to get all interested groups and individuals involved in planning for a sustainable future," said Mr Martin.
'Environment at stake, says Martin'
Wanganui's environmental future mustn't be sacrificed by political point scoring, says mayoral challenger John Martin. "It's time to get serious about our environment and the best way to do that is by working in partnership with individuals and organisations who are committed to ensuring future generations can enjoy the security and lifestyle advantages that have made our district such a special place," said Mr Martin."Instead we are seeing renewed attacks on the regional council by theVision group that has played fast and loose with so many of our key relationships over the past three years. The fact is, it has never been more important for Wanganui's elected representatives and Council staff to work closely with Horizons and our neighbouring district councils, as well as Iwi, conservation groups and individuals."He said he was concerned that at a time when many important regional management issues were being debated by Horizons councillors, Wanganui had effectively been reduced to one voice and one vote for much of the current term because of the poor attendance of Cr Brookhammer. "We have been well served by Cr Annette Main and she has repeatedly tried to establish a good dialogue with Wanganui's council, but that has been difficult when the mayor has taken such an aggressive stance, and the council has simply fallen into line.
"Mr Martin said the Vision dominated Council would leave a legacy ofenvironmental neglect and mismanagement. "There's been a focus on expensive new projects like the $250,000 spent over two years on the 'Heart of the City', with nothing to show for it. Yet here's also been an unwillingness, tinged with arrogance, to take responsibility for Wanganui's most precious asset – the environment.
"Wanganui needed to join the rest of the world in recognising that the way people live and work would change within the next 10 years, he said. "We need a council that can plan for that. It's not good enough to toss responsibility for river management and flood protection to Horizons and then blame them for any impact on rates; this is an issue that will not go away.
"Mr Martin said the potential of the port to play a role in the likely resurgence of coastal shipping needed to be protected, and local and neighbourhood amenities like swimming pools and community halls shouldn't be run down or sold off at a time when soaring transport costs will restrict people's ability to travel. "These will be urgent issues for me as mayor and I'll move quickly to get all interested groups and individuals involved in planning for a sustainable future," said Mr Martin.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Martin makes mayoralty bid official
Martin makes mayoralty bid official 02.08.2007 By JOHN MASLIN
HE SIGNALLED his intent in March and now it's official - John Martin has filed his nomination as a candidate in the Wanganui mayoral race in the October local body elections.
Mr Martin finished second to Michael Laws in 2004, and is the second nomination lodged at the Wanganui electoral office.
Born and bred in Wanganui, Mr Martin spent a total of 16 years in the New Zealand and British armies before carving out a career with American Express. He finished as global vice-president of the company s real estate division.
He and wife Brenda returned to their home city six years ago.
Mr Martin has underscored his opposition to party politics in local government by standing as an independent in 2004 and said his position had not wavered.
His campaign is under way, but he expected it to gather momentum from next week. He said he had already been asked by a growing number of groups to speak to them.
This no doubt indicates a huge amount of interest in the city about this upcoming election, he told the Chronicle yesterday.
A virtual unknown three years ago, Mr Martin's performance at the polls was one of the big surprises in then and he expects to go one better this time.
If the contact I've had from right across the community over the past four or five months is any indication there is a large number of people not happy with the way Wanganui is currently being promoted.
He indicated he had a number of policy issues that he would be releasing in the coming weeks.
Mr Martin said if he had one problem at the moment it was trying to limit the number of people on the campaign team.
From going it alone last time, there's a huge difference this time with well over 200 people on the campaign team and every day I m fielding more calls from people offering to help, he said.
Meanwhile, Vision Wanganui yesterday named its first five candidates for the district council elections.
The five are all current councillors and include deputy-mayor Dot McKinnon, Murray Hughes, Nicki Higgie, Marty Lindsay and Philippa Baker-Hogan.
As of late yesterday none of the candidates had lodged their nominations with the electoral office.
Vision Wanganui said it would be naming a mayoral candidate, along with more district council, rural community board and Horizons Regional Council later.
Nominations opened last Friday and close at midday on August 24. Postal voting runs from September 21 until midday on Saturday, October 13.
HE SIGNALLED his intent in March and now it's official - John Martin has filed his nomination as a candidate in the Wanganui mayoral race in the October local body elections.
Mr Martin finished second to Michael Laws in 2004, and is the second nomination lodged at the Wanganui electoral office.
Born and bred in Wanganui, Mr Martin spent a total of 16 years in the New Zealand and British armies before carving out a career with American Express. He finished as global vice-president of the company s real estate division.
He and wife Brenda returned to their home city six years ago.
Mr Martin has underscored his opposition to party politics in local government by standing as an independent in 2004 and said his position had not wavered.
His campaign is under way, but he expected it to gather momentum from next week. He said he had already been asked by a growing number of groups to speak to them.
This no doubt indicates a huge amount of interest in the city about this upcoming election, he told the Chronicle yesterday.
A virtual unknown three years ago, Mr Martin's performance at the polls was one of the big surprises in then and he expects to go one better this time.
If the contact I've had from right across the community over the past four or five months is any indication there is a large number of people not happy with the way Wanganui is currently being promoted.
He indicated he had a number of policy issues that he would be releasing in the coming weeks.
Mr Martin said if he had one problem at the moment it was trying to limit the number of people on the campaign team.
From going it alone last time, there's a huge difference this time with well over 200 people on the campaign team and every day I m fielding more calls from people offering to help, he said.
Meanwhile, Vision Wanganui yesterday named its first five candidates for the district council elections.
The five are all current councillors and include deputy-mayor Dot McKinnon, Murray Hughes, Nicki Higgie, Marty Lindsay and Philippa Baker-Hogan.
As of late yesterday none of the candidates had lodged their nominations with the electoral office.
Vision Wanganui said it would be naming a mayoral candidate, along with more district council, rural community board and Horizons Regional Council later.
Nominations opened last Friday and close at midday on August 24. Postal voting runs from September 21 until midday on Saturday, October 13.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Preface to a Campaign
This piece from the archive written by David Laurence in 2005 sets the scene for the impending campaign. It illustrates John Martin's inclusive and objective approach to local-body politics and a deep commitment to Wanganui and it's community whether as Mayor or as an individual.
Mayoral runner-up may try again 25.06.2005 By DAVE LAURENCE
Runner-up last year, John Martin might be back for another tilt at the Wanganui mayoralty in 2007.
So he's naturally a keen observer of the Vision-dominated Wanganui District Council and the manner of Mayor Michael Laws.
In terms of profile and proclamations Mr Martin was eclipsed last year. Yet he polled so strongly that arguably he would have been the winner if incumbent Chas Poynter had stood down.
Post-election, Mr Martin has been busy as a bee with the proverbial - despite his rather quaint insistence that he is in retirement. Some of this activity is likely to get public attention in the near future.
In a Chronicle interview this week he reflected on the new regime and did not rule himself out of the 2007 mayoralty contest.
"Going into the (2004) election I was hesitant because of my lack of profile. I got a more than satisfactory result."
Mr Martin said he continued to be a keen council watcher but doesn’t attend as many council-related meetings as he did pre-election. Post-election, the council inevitably had to change. "There was never any question we were going to see a number of new councillors come on board. I respect the work some of those new councillors are doing. I genuinely think they're going to be a valuable addition to local government in Wanganui.
"The mayoralty itself is proving to be controversial - as was promised. I don't think Wanganui should be surprised. In many ways, this debate is healthy within the community.
"Whether it's achieving anything for Wanganui, I'm not so sure. It's certainly lifting the mayor's profile nationally. It's a management profile I haven't come across in business or local government. There seems to be pleasure taken in creating division and controversy."
Mr Martin said one of Wanganui’s attractive features had been its ability to work as a community.
"We're experimenting with a more provocative approach to local government. We need to be careful over time that it doesn’t deter people from either moving to or investing in the district."
He invited people to think carefully about the actual level of change in Wanganui since last year's election.
For instance, the recent referendum on projects did not change priorities promulgated by the previous council.
"There has been a tremendous amount of noise about what the mayor perceived to be a so-called old boy network.
Sitting on the sideline as an observer, I see a new boys network to replace the old boy's one. So, again, where is the change?
"When it comes to the direction Wanganui is taking, yes, Wanganui is on a roll, but that started occurring two or three years back as the economic situation improved." How do others see us?
"You come up against a lot of negative criticism or humorous comment about the situation Wanganui is in. Though nationally and internationally politics has moved into the area of personalities, profile and celebrity status, whether we're talking about California or Wanganui. A lot of people will look at personality over policy."
Mr Martin now finds himself busier than in the days when he was racing round the world in the management of a global organisation. He has advisory and management roles in charitable organisations and new business enterprises.
"There is probably more enjoyment in the various things I'm involved with now. But my dream of spending half my life on the Whakapapa River with a fly rod in my hand hasn’t eventuated and the golf clubs haven’t been out of the cupboard for 12 months."
Yes, but will he make another mayoral bid?
I'll be watching and waiting to see what Wanganui says as we approach the next election. If Wanganui wants me as an alternative choice I may well consider that.
"I'm certainly not frightened off local body politics. And I remain intensely interested in Wanganui."
It is anyone’s guess whether Mr Laws will seek a second term. Already there is talk of renewed involvement in national politics.
Mr Martin (wearing a look of innocence): "He may have wider political aspirations."
For many years until the 2004 election party politics had little bearing on Wanganui local government though tickets were assembled from time to time. Wanganui’s opinion of the Vision influence presumably will be illustrated in 2007.
"My view of parties or tickets at local body level has been reinforced since the last election," Mr Martin said."There are some very valuable and competent individual councillors. Whether there is any value from the collective action of a team or a party is becoming very questionable."
He said he was still firmly opposed to a party whip scenario in which councillors were told they must do what their executive leader required.
"There is an impression that’s happening. It would be pretty hard to debate that that is not occurring. Take the spin away and look at the reality."
Mr Martin said the election of Mr Laws and Vision candidates was driving the current pace of changes in Wanganui local government and creating debate.
"Sooner or later the pendulum will swing back to where we've got change that more people are comfortable about."
Mayoral runner-up may try again 25.06.2005 By DAVE LAURENCE
Runner-up last year, John Martin might be back for another tilt at the Wanganui mayoralty in 2007.
So he's naturally a keen observer of the Vision-dominated Wanganui District Council and the manner of Mayor Michael Laws.
In terms of profile and proclamations Mr Martin was eclipsed last year. Yet he polled so strongly that arguably he would have been the winner if incumbent Chas Poynter had stood down.
Post-election, Mr Martin has been busy as a bee with the proverbial - despite his rather quaint insistence that he is in retirement. Some of this activity is likely to get public attention in the near future.
In a Chronicle interview this week he reflected on the new regime and did not rule himself out of the 2007 mayoralty contest.
"Going into the (2004) election I was hesitant because of my lack of profile. I got a more than satisfactory result."
Mr Martin said he continued to be a keen council watcher but doesn’t attend as many council-related meetings as he did pre-election. Post-election, the council inevitably had to change. "There was never any question we were going to see a number of new councillors come on board. I respect the work some of those new councillors are doing. I genuinely think they're going to be a valuable addition to local government in Wanganui.
"The mayoralty itself is proving to be controversial - as was promised. I don't think Wanganui should be surprised. In many ways, this debate is healthy within the community.
"Whether it's achieving anything for Wanganui, I'm not so sure. It's certainly lifting the mayor's profile nationally. It's a management profile I haven't come across in business or local government. There seems to be pleasure taken in creating division and controversy."
Mr Martin said one of Wanganui’s attractive features had been its ability to work as a community.
"We're experimenting with a more provocative approach to local government. We need to be careful over time that it doesn’t deter people from either moving to or investing in the district."
He invited people to think carefully about the actual level of change in Wanganui since last year's election.
For instance, the recent referendum on projects did not change priorities promulgated by the previous council.
"There has been a tremendous amount of noise about what the mayor perceived to be a so-called old boy network.
Sitting on the sideline as an observer, I see a new boys network to replace the old boy's one. So, again, where is the change?
"When it comes to the direction Wanganui is taking, yes, Wanganui is on a roll, but that started occurring two or three years back as the economic situation improved." How do others see us?
"You come up against a lot of negative criticism or humorous comment about the situation Wanganui is in. Though nationally and internationally politics has moved into the area of personalities, profile and celebrity status, whether we're talking about California or Wanganui. A lot of people will look at personality over policy."
Mr Martin now finds himself busier than in the days when he was racing round the world in the management of a global organisation. He has advisory and management roles in charitable organisations and new business enterprises.
"There is probably more enjoyment in the various things I'm involved with now. But my dream of spending half my life on the Whakapapa River with a fly rod in my hand hasn’t eventuated and the golf clubs haven’t been out of the cupboard for 12 months."
Yes, but will he make another mayoral bid?
I'll be watching and waiting to see what Wanganui says as we approach the next election. If Wanganui wants me as an alternative choice I may well consider that.
"I'm certainly not frightened off local body politics. And I remain intensely interested in Wanganui."
It is anyone’s guess whether Mr Laws will seek a second term. Already there is talk of renewed involvement in national politics.
Mr Martin (wearing a look of innocence): "He may have wider political aspirations."
For many years until the 2004 election party politics had little bearing on Wanganui local government though tickets were assembled from time to time. Wanganui’s opinion of the Vision influence presumably will be illustrated in 2007.
"My view of parties or tickets at local body level has been reinforced since the last election," Mr Martin said."There are some very valuable and competent individual councillors. Whether there is any value from the collective action of a team or a party is becoming very questionable."
He said he was still firmly opposed to a party whip scenario in which councillors were told they must do what their executive leader required.
"There is an impression that’s happening. It would be pretty hard to debate that that is not occurring. Take the spin away and look at the reality."
Mr Martin said the election of Mr Laws and Vision candidates was driving the current pace of changes in Wanganui local government and creating debate.
"Sooner or later the pendulum will swing back to where we've got change that more people are comfortable about."
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Welcome to Positive Wanganui
Kia ora and welcome to the official John Martin, Wanganui mayoral campaign blog. This blog will follow John's campaign, providing important information, campaign updates and news and comment from John Martin.
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