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 Arie Ketel for the Onslow-West­ern Ward.

1. What should be the city council’s role in help­ing home­less people and beg­gars?
Care for the genu­inely home­less, build strong communities/families to tackle the root causes of home­less­ness.

2. What would you do to make Wel­ling­ton more cycle and ped­es­tri­an friendly?
Restrict private vehicle access in the CBD. Invest in sub­urb­an cycle­ways away from roads like the Dutch have done.

3. How do you think traffic flow to the hos­pit­al and air­port should be improved?
Seek an altern­at­ive route from north of the city to air­port, thereby eas­ing inner-city con­ges­tion. Invest in sens­ible pub­lic trans­port.

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?
Innov­a­tion, clev­er thinkers, entre­pren­eurs up for tak­ing risks. Weta star­ted in little more than a gar­age, let’s cre­ate more suc­cess stor­ies like that.

5. What will YOU do to get more invest­ment, busi­nesses, and busi­ness con­fid­ence in Wel­ling­ton?
Set the con­di­tions so busi­nesses want to base them­selves here, fill the place with innov­at­ors.

6. What does Wel­ling­ton need more of, and what does Wel­ling­ton need less of?
More: Pos­it­ive, for­ward think­ing and plan­ning: Vis­ion. Less: Selfish­ness, greed and cyn­icism.

7. What would your city coun­cil provide for chil­dren and young people?
Stronger fam­il­ies and com­munit­ies: more qual­ity time with parents/siblings, appro­pri­ate facil­it­ies in their neigh­bour­hoods. Rich and reward­ing child­hoods.

8. What steps would you take to encour­age civic engage­ment?
Live stream­ing of coun­cil meet­ings (where appro­pri­ate), push for a WCC may­or­al office in The Bee­hive, monthly BBQ in civic square.

9. Tell us about your per­son­al earth­quake plan / What’s unusu­al about your earth­quake kit?
Since the July shakes I sleep with a ham­mer, torch and robust shoes under the bed – and a sack of dog food for our two…

10. Why should we vote for you?
I’m an ordin­ary bloke – they called for fresh blood in the coun­cil. Here it is.

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