We offered to pub­lish the answers from any can­di­dates in the local body elec­tions and John Bish­op who is stand­ing in Lambton Ward has stepped up.

1. You have 30 sec­onds to con­vince some­one to come to Welling­ton. What’s your pitch?

A raft of won­der­ful enter­tain­ment and recre­ation in a com­pact city – good for mind, body and soul

2. How do you think traf­fic flow to the hos­pi­tal and air­port could be improved?

Wider roads, more bus­es and more space for cyclists. Per­haps light rail too depend­ing on cost

3. Where do you stand on the issue of open­ing up gov­ern­ment data?

Shine the light.

4. What plans have do you have to improve recycling/composting facil­i­ties?

Lids on bins to reduce rub­bish blow­ing about. Sup­port council’s new plan for kerb­side sort­ing

5. What is your pol­i­cy on street alco­holics?

Wet hous­es wher­ev­er we can sen­si­bly put them. More treat­ment facil­i­ties.

6. Do you sup­port pedes­tri­an­i­sa­tion of the Gold­en Mile? Why/Why not?

Not if that means no bus­es, ser­vice vehi­cles or taxis. Sick and old peo­ple still need access by car.

7. What’s the last local mar­ket you went to? What did you buy?

Blenheim and chest­nuts. Hill Street and fish

8. Describe your bicy­cle, or your favourite bus route?

Courte­nay Place to Island Bay. I don’t cycle, but I sup­port oth­ers doing that.

9. When did you last use the library, a com­mu­ni­ty cen­tre, or a coun­cil-run sports facil­i­ty?

Last week

10. Would you wel­come a cen­tral gov­ern­ment dri­ven “super-city” amal­ga­ma­tion of local author­i­ties?  If not, why not?

No to any cen­tral­ly dri­ven plan. Sup­port more region­al co- oper­a­tion by sec­tor. Why not region­al man­age­ment of sports grounds.

11. Do you think the coun­cil has a role in fos­ter­ing com­mu­ni­ty web­sites? If so, how? 

Yes as part of a free broad­band plan for the city

12. Where do you stand on water pri­vati­sa­tion, and why?

No sale of com­mu­ni­ty assets. I have signed the PSA pledge on that.

13. What city over­seas inspires your vision for Welling­ton? How?

Mel­bourne for its spa­cious lay­out, gar­dens, and sports facil­i­ties. New York for vibran­cy and diver­si­ty.

San Anto­nio for unique charm

14. Is the con­cept of demo­c­ra­t­ic rep­re­sen­ta­tion impor­tant to you?  How so?

Of course. Elect­ed rep­re­sen­ta­tives must make the impor­tant deci­sions, because they, not offi­cials, are polit­i­cal­ly account­able.

15. What do you think about com­mu­ni­ty gar­dens on pub­lic land?

It might work, depend­ing on where and how it is done.