We’ve provided a set of ques­tions for the may­or­al and coun­cil­lor can­did­ates to answer. First 25 words to an answer get pos­ted. Check our 2013 Elec­tion cov­er­age for all responses as they come in.

Here’s the response from Milton Hol­lard, can­did­ate for Lamb­ton Ward

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

To sup­port the DCM, etc  identi­fy indi­vidu­als’ issues and get them referred accord­ingly, if they’ll accept help (not quite  a police state yet).

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

Sep­ar­ate cyc­lists and ped­es­tri­ans  from vehicu­lar traffic wherever prac­tic­al. Add to cycle­way net­work on key routes, where suf­fi­cient demand, and topo­graphy and cost allow.

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

Pri­or­ity bus lanes.  Look again at light rail, not  ter­min­at­ing in Kil­birnie as the flawed study indic­ated and without extra tun­nel pos­ited.

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 needs to diver­si­fy where can. Strengths: its nat­ur­al attrac­tions and learn­ing and cul­tur­al oppor­tun­it­ies.   A tram­way from Kent Ter­race up to Mt Vic­tor­ia?

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

Advoc­ate keep­ing rates increases with­in infla­tion and try to keep them com­pet­it­ive. Don’t single out busi­nesses by impos­ing the down­town levy. Approach know­ledge-intens­ive busi­nesses.

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

A more pos­it­ive atti­tude and less whinge­ing.  More  vis­it­ors to stay, shop and see. Bring back the Cuba Street Car­ni­val.

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

Restore the reduced lib­rary ser­vices to chil­dren and extend hours (for every­one). More play­grounds, includ­ing youth play­grounds (roller- blad­ing, etc.). Youth drop-in centres  if demand.

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

Keep the Coun­cil sur­veys “have your say”. Devel­op  per­son­al con­sultat­ive arrange­ments with res­id­ents asso­ci­ations and com­munity groups, includ­ing youth, in Lamb­ton Ward.

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

Drop,  cov­er (under the sturdy din­ing room table), hold.  Noth­ing unusu­al, but lots of water and tinned food, plastic bags for waste.

10. Why should we vote for you?

Because I’ll try to make the Coun­cil more respons­ive— officers on tap, not on top. And I’ll put in the neces­sary  time and effort.

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

www.wellington/elections/can­did­ates, then click on my name.