PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 August, 2013

Wayne Brown to Continue Lifting Performance of the Far North

Far North Mayor, Wayne Brown, today announced he is standing for another term to continue lifting the district’s economic performance and not see it swallowed up into one Northland Unitary Authority.

Brown says his experienced business leadership has played a key role in the improvements at Council over the past six years and now is not the time to lurch in a new direction and get off track.

“Voters need to remember that Council is a $100M+ business and they have a choice between an experienced business leader or two career politicians,” says Brown. “Shaking hands outside supermarkets once every three years is not my skill, I think we all recognise that, but what I am good at is fixing balance sheets, getting projects done and attracting economic investment to our district,” says Brown.

“While most councils and government have recently borrowed heavily to keep going, we have continued to deliver services, upgrade infrastructure and build fantastic new facilities, all while reducing debt and keeping rate rises under control,” says Brown. “We are now one of the only few councils in the country with debt less than revenue.”

According to the Local Government League Table, Far North District Council has had a “marked improvement in performance”, moving from its ranking of 55 out of 67 councils to 35, leaving neighbours Whangarei and Kaipara at the bottom of the pack.

Brown says under his leadership, Council has undeniably achieved a lot right across the district and attracting further investment for jobs and economic growth is a priority.

“We now have investors looking at processing of logs and milk, minerals, energy, transport, aquaculture and education, and we’ve been working with Iwi leaders on a Growth Strategy to use their Treaty settlements to improve social development and better environmental management.

The results of this election will also have a huge impact on the local government structure in the Far North.

“This election is almost a referendum on the future of local government here. I believe Far North decisions need to be made in the Far North, whereas John Carter wants to reduce the Far North to a Community Board of a Whangarei-based Northland Council.

“I’m passionate about seeing the Far North prosper and I don’t want to see a large provincial council lead to the demise of our own small towns and the Far North paying off big debts from neighbouring councils,” says Brown.

“There is still plenty of room for improvement but we’re on the right track and the progress we’ve made shouldn’t be put at risk. If the people of the Far North want a Mayor who gets stuff done, vote for me,” says Brown.

For more information, go to www.votebrowny.co.nz

ENDS

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