Matt Cowley Tauranga City Councillor

In continuing the theme of letting you hear from other elected members, here's a piece from Tauranga's Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout.

Thanks Matt, in serving as Deputy Mayor of Tauranga City I'm often asked what have I learnt or discovered in my first year of local government politics.

Here are some matters I'd like to share with you.

We have a great team of councillors, who really do have Tauranga's best interests at heart.

There is a significant diversity of backgrounds, skills and opinions, which means every issue we deal with receives a range of perspectives and input.

Some people would say that we are holding too many workshops and briefings but these are vital to exploring many, sometimes controversial, options before making the best possible decisions for Tauranga.

Despite the grumblings of some, TCC management and staff are of a high calibre and often go above and beyond the call of duty to serve this great city.

While we must always be conscious of staff costs, I've been impressed with the attitude and commitment of our staff.

It is easy to criticise council when you are outside the tent and not privy to all the information.

In 2013 it was simple for me and other candidates to pick holes in council decisions and practises. However, I now have a greater understanding of the complexities of local government and am more sympathetic to previous councils which were doing the best they could with the information and environment they had at the time.

Indeed some should be applauded for the foresight they had in such decisions as purchasing land for vital infrastructure and preparing for growth.

There is little to fear, but much to gain, in developing a closer working relationships with tangata whenua. With local treaty settlement processes almost concluded I look forward to seeing Maori release their significant economic and cultural potential.

In dealing with tangata whenua my mantra has always been 'we should honour the past but invest for the future”.

Tauranga has a growing sense of identity, pride and community. It's fantastic to see an increasing number of food and other markets, indoor and outdoor events, and cultural expressions through the likes of public art and performances.

We're also punching well above our weight in sporting success, and I'm heartened to see more use of our natural environment for the likes of multi-sport, sailing, beach volleyball, and motocross.

The future for Tauranga City is glowing, and growing. We hold an envious position being close enough to Auckland and Hamilton to share in their economic prosperity, but far enough away to maximise our small-city vibe, glorious environment and lifestyle opportunities.

It's well known that central government appreciates the strong sense of cooperation between the many local bodies and agencies represented here, and has been more than willing to invest in such things as the Tauranga Eastern Link, Hairini underpass, university campus, hospital upgrades, and other forms of regional economic development.

As that 1980s song says: 'The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades”.

Contact Kelvin on 027 222 3771, or email kelvin.clout@tauranga.govt.nz