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 Simon Woolf, candid­ate for Onslow West­ern Ward Wel­ling­ton.

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

I believe the Coun­cil should be sym­path­et­ic; how­ever any fund­ing should be in con­sulta­tion, and via organ­isa­tions like The City Mis­sion, and The Night Shel­ter

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

Edu­ca­tion, for all drivers, cyc­lists and ped­es­tri­ans, and estab­lish­ing a Code of Con­duct for all. Great­er enforce­ment, with all three modes. Cycle lanes ‚where prac­tic­able.

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

A great­er emphas­is on ring road­ing the CBD.  Less con­ges­tion to cre­ate smooth­er flows. Bet­ter phas­ing of lights at key times.

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?

We do need to be more than just Weta and Gov­ern­ment. Wel­ling­tons strengths lie in: The Cre­at­ive Indus­tries, IT, Events, and espe­cially Adven­ture / Eco Tour­ism.

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

I’d provide tan­gible incent­ives eg includ­ing rates rebates, ment­or, and mar­ket­ing assist­ance to both keep, and attract enter­prise to Wel­ling­ton. Provide smooth­er compliance/ con­sent pro­cesses.

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

Wel­ling­ton needs a more can do, will do atti­tude, and less of a “where is ours”, approach. We need to show more ini­ti­at­ive and enter­prise.

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

More pure events eg like Car­ols by Candle­light, Wait­angi Day etc. Bet­ter sub­urb­an amen­it­ies pro­mot­ing health and well­being eg Wheel and Adven­ture Parks.

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

Coun­cil would con­sult face to face with rate­pay­ers and stake hold­ers innov­at­ively, and reg­u­larly. The engage­ment would be in tan­dem at gov­ernance and oper­a­tion­al levels.

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

Our plan revolves around com­mon sense, com­mu­nic­a­tion and sur­viv­al. We have a dia­bet­ic in our fam­ily, so noth­ing has been left to chance.

10.  Why should we vote for you?

I have diverse and unique set of skills. I am proven, and make things hap­pen. I have vast exper­i­ence and expert­ise in some key areas.

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

https://www.facebook.com/OnslowWestern?ref=hl and www.simonwoolf.co.nz