Thanks to Jack Yan for taking the time to answer our questions. 

1. You have 30 seconds to convince someone to come to Wellington. What’s your pitch?
You’ll never find a city with a better work–lifestyle mix. If I’m elected, it’ll be the most forward-thinking city in the world.

2. How do you think traffic flow to the hospital and airport could be improved?
By reducing the traffic. Part of why I am passionate about free wifi will be allowing more teleworking and flexible hours.

3. Where do you stand on the issue of opening up government data?
 I’m the only candidate with ideas about transparency and open source. The more these data can be opened, the more we can collaborate.

4. What plans have do you have to improve recycling/composting facilities?
 Get people involved via a city blog, and being transparent about our issues. People can learn about setting up their own composting bins, for example.

5. What is your policy on street alcoholics?
 Working with police on enforcement. We need to get to the root cause. If it’s economic, it fits with why I’ve talked about job creation.

6. Do you support pedestrianization of the Golden Mile? Why/Why not?
I support greater pedestrianization but not the Golden Mile—yet. I’ve proposed a carless weekend in summer 2011, as a prelude for the World Cup.

7. What’s the last local market you went to? What did you buy?
The Sunday one at Chaffers, and a huge bunch of bananas.

8. Describe your bicycle, or your favourite bus route?
 The Airport Flyer goes past my street. Comfy seats, free wifi, and friendly drivers—I’d vote for any route the Flyers go on.

9. When did you last use the library, a community centre, or a council-run sports facility?
 I used the library two months ago, and the Kilbirnie Community Centre one month ago.

10. Would you welcome a central government driven "super-city" amalgamation of local authorities?
If not, why not? Not in 2010. The region is governable; Auckland was not. Look at the San Francisco Bay Area: the cities there didn’t need to amalgamate.

11. Do you think the council has a role in fostering community websites? If so, how?
 Yes, but it needs to sort its own doorstep. The city needs to webcast council meetings. With the demise of WCN, many communities found alternatives.

12. Where do you stand on water privatization, and why?
I oppose private, corporate control and 35-year leases of the one resource that is completely and indisputably owned by the public.

13. What city overseas inspires your vision for Wellington? How?
I don’t need to look overseas. I need to look at Wellingtonians. We forge a joint vision, and the Wellington brand encapsulates what we believe.

14. Is the concept of democratic representation important to you? How so?
Vital. This is why I’ve proposed that city blog, getting comments from citizens. If our ideas are sharp enough, why shouldn’t we level with people?

15. What do you think about community gardens on public land?
 In total support. Hataitai is doing one, for instance. We need community gardens and free public orchards, to give us community-based solutions.