This is Our Community, Our Voice. Glen Olsen, why I am standing for the Paraparaumu Community Board
Our Community, Our Voice, let's Make it Heard!
As a long-term resident, my family has over 50 years of history in Paraparaumu. Over the last couple of years, I have been wondering, what value is the Paraparaumu Community Board delivering? How in any way is it representing our collective community's voice?
Sadly, when people are elected, they often believe they have the right to speak "for" the people; this is not correct; and is a characteristic found in authoritarianism, not in our democracy. Board members must represent the collective community's wishes, regardless of whether or not they align with their personal opinion.
I must challenge as to when the Paraparaumu Community Board last consulted our community on any issue. Also, when has the board taken a representative lead on any matter concerning the community? Is the board reporting what they have done for the community? Looking at the Paraparaumu Community Facebook page, it has been a long time.
The Paraparaumu community board must take a more significant role in representing our community; it should not just sit back and wait for KDCD to lead its agenda. Critically the board needs to become proactive. It must begin engaging with, representing and communicating what it is doing and disclosing how it adds value to the Paraparaumu Community.
We must continue improving our community's environment and lifestyle, ensuring affordable rates and that KCDC expenditure is beneficial and accountable.
With a keen interest in local sports, theatre, the arts and sustainable economic development, I have been involved with several local community groups and charities. I initiated BSN Kapiti (Business Support Network Kapiti) during the early stages of the initial Covid lockdown as a support network, including a means for local businesses to gain access to the latest information. I remain a long-term committee member (previously deputy chair) of KEDA (Kapiti Economic Development Association).
For these and many more reasons, I stand to revive the Paraparaumu Community Board.
Our Community, Our Voice, let's Make it Heard!
glenolsen.net
Authorised by Glen Olsen
glen@glenolsen.net
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
-
36.5% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
-
63.5% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Loading…
