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.