Can­di­date respons­es to our elec­tion ques­tions com­ing in thick and fast! As before, the first 25 words to an answer get post­ed. Check our 2013 Elec­tion cov­er­age for all respons­es as they come in.

Here is Helene Ritchie, can­di­date for North­ern Ward and for the Dis­trict Health Board.

1.      What should be the city council’s role in help­ing home­less peo­ple and beg­gars?

Ask them what they want/ need and assess through our com­mu­ni­ty, health and oth­er ser­vices where best if at all we might meet their need(s).

2.      What would you do to make Welling­ton more cycle and pedes­tri­an friend­ly?

I would con­tin­ue to be a strong voice seek­ing improve­ments, addi­tions, safe­ty, fund­ing for off road tracks (already achieved recent­ly) and new cycling/pedestrian infra­struc­ture.

3.      How do you think traf­fic flow to the hos­pi­tal and air­port should be improved?

Through effi­cient, afford­able, qual­i­ty, acces­si­ble pub­lic trans­port and mul­ti­modal links-with clear pri­or­i­ty for emer­gency ser­vices.

4.      What are your views on the sug­ges­tion Welling­ton needs to be “more than just Weta and Gov­ern­ment” – what do you think are Wellington’s strengths?

Welling­ton is our Nat­ur­al cap­i­tal-our econ­o­my depends on our envi­ron­ment-our Town Belts; our Blue Belt (hills and har­bour); our acces­si­b­li­ty, walk­a­blil­i­ty, easy con­nect­ed­ness.

5.      What will YOU do to get more invest­ment, busi­ness­es, and busi­ness con­fi­dence in Welling­ton?

Show­case the above. Pro­mote the inno­v­a­tive, cre­ative, excit­ing, diverse, tol­er­ant, safe, acces­si­ble coolest lit­tle Cap­i­tal that we are.

6.      What does Welling­ton need more of, and what does Welling­ton need less of?

Welling­ton needs more under­stand­ing of the City we have become and less of the City we were, which some pro­mote as if we still are!

7.      What would your city coun­cil pro­vide for chil­dren and young peo­ple?

Parks, envi­ron­men­tal edu­ca­tion; indoor play­space; a Chil­dren’s Botan­i­cal gar­den (new); tracks, bush; com­mu­ni­ty and fam­i­ly sup­port ser­vices and class­es; youth cen­tres; sports grounds.

8.      What steps would you take to encour­age civic engage­ment?

I’ve tried devel­op­ing cours­es to train oth­ers; inform­ing peo­ple by stand­ing for elec­tion; peti­tions, issue cam­paigns; pro­mot­ing civics in schools.

9.      Tell us about your per­son­al earth­quake plan / What’s unusu­al about your earth­quake kit?

My plan will depend on where I am. I’ve got stacks of water but I might not be near it! A whis­tle. Flat shoes.

10.   Why should we vote for you?

Expe­ri­ence counts! As the longest serv­ing coun­cil­lor, I know how to make things hap­pen for you. I do. I have. I will!

11.   Where can we find out more about what you stand for?

www.heleneritchie.org.nz I also have leaflets.