SHANE WALSH FOR WAIPĀ DISTRICT COUNCIL

Candidate for Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward

IT’S TIME FOR A RESET. As the CEO of the Business Chamber and working on community boards including Destination Te Awamutu, I’ve seen firsthand how Council decisions can negatively affect our community and unnecessarily drive up costs for local families and businesses. We deserve better and that’s why I’m standing. If elected, my priorities are to ensure Council listens to ratepayers, cuts their wasteful spending and focuses on getting things done in Te Awamutu and Kihikihi. I’m financially focused, people-minded, and ready to roll up my sleeves. Let’s reconnect Council with the people it serves. I would appreciate your support.

MY VISION

After four years working closely in our community, I’ve seen how disconnected Council can feel — and how frustrating that is for locals. Through the groups I’ve been involved with, my focus has always been making our community a better place to live.

But too often, good ideas get lost in red tape or are ignored altogether. In addition, wasteful, inefficient Council spending is putting an increased financial burden on rate payers.

I’m standing for Council to help change that — to eliminate wasteful spending, investigate other funding models to minimise financial burden on rate payers, rebuild trust, improve communication and make sure the community’s voice is truly heard.

IT'S TIME FOR A RESET. Let’s reconnect Council with the people it serves and get things done.

#1 Eliminate wasteful spending

Focus on minimising rates and ensure rate payer funds are not wasted. Investigate other funding models and structures to minimise the financial burden on rate payers.

#2 Listen

Take notice of rate payer concerns and wishes.

#3 Get things done

Projects that have rate payers support need to be delivered.

ABOUT ME

Born and raised in Te Awamutu, I am proud to once again call Te Awamutu home since 2020.

I built a successful career in executive and senior management roles in New Zealand and overseas, working in the fishing and dairy industries.

Armed with an MBA (with distinction) and decades of leadership experience, I have a good understanding about how things work in large, complex organisations. I am a financially-focussed thinker and bring a steady hand and strategic mindset to everything I do.

I have returned to Waipā with a renewed commitment to the community that shaped me, immersing myself in community service and local development. I am currently serving as:

CEO of the Te Awamutu Business Chamber
Chairperson of Destination Te Awamutu
Chairperson of the Waipā Community Facilities Trust, supporting youth and community sports facilities in both Te Awamutu and Cambridge.

Living in the heart of Te Awamutu, the town we love, I am married with three children and have three grandchildren.

With deep local roots and a future-focused vision, I am standing for local council to help ensure Te Awamutu and Kihikihi thrive for generations to come. If I am to be elected to Council, I will step down from all other positions to give this position 100% of my focus.