Date and place of birth Graz, Austria. 07/07/1975
Ethnicity European
Current residence and electorate Moa Point, Rongotai
Educational and vocational qualifications PhD Environmental Impact Assessments and Marine Biology; Energy research, medical research, sustainability implementation, waste and sustainability policy
Current occupation Principal Scientist/Research Team Manager, EECA (since 2007)
Previous occupations Sustainability Advisor to DCE, MSD (2007); Product Stewardship Policy Advisor, MfE (2006); Govt3 Advisor, MFish (2006); University of Otago Medical Research (2005); Environmental Consultant, PhD candidate (1999-2004)
Other work experience (including voluntary/unpaid) Tutoring, marine education, underwater filming and photography, commercial diving, trustee and chairwoman
Community connections
Co-chaired WCC Environmental Reference Group (under Celia Wade-Brown) since Feb 2008
Sea Shepherd supporter (financially since 2009)
Trustee on Sustainability Trust since Feb 2008
Trustee on National Energy Research Institute since Feb 2010
Community Energy Network supporter
Organised 'Motivating Change' workshop series in Wellington Sept and Dec 2010 with HikurangiFoundation, NERI and the MIDAS institute; NZ Expert on International Energy Agency's R&D Evaluation and Priority Setting Expert Group (since 2008)
Invited panel leader of 'Dynamics of Consumption' panel for European Council for Energy Efficient Economies summer study 2011
Part of Intersect.
Policy Interests/Expertise Sustainability implementation; waste; energy; RS&T; medical research; marine conservation; animal welfare; climate change
My broad political issues
(1) Resource waste reduction - how to effectively 'nudge' humans to be less wasteful
(2) A 'sustainable' economy and society
(3) Resilience and adaptation to climate change and oil shocks
(4) Animal welfare and biodiversity conservation
Top 5 Issues
Personal Profile
Authorised by Jon Field of Level 2, 17 Garrett Street, Wellington
Questions answered by Sea Rotmann
Question
Sea Rotmann's Reply
1. There is already a good deal of task and resource sharing between the three Wairarapa councils, but a general feeling (not yet tested publicly) against a 'Wellington Super Council'. I certainly wouldn't recommend it if the communities are strongly opposed to it. There are some fears of losing the individual cultures of the communities if they are amalgamated.
2. I think better train (freight and passenger) access and performance would improve the Wairarapa's economic performance! Throwing money at more roads, especially a massively expensive road tunnel, would be money down the drain as oil prices will cripple us in the next 20-50 years and shift access away from roading.
3. Clean tech development including renewable energy projects and technology centres. An increase to the home insulation scheme leading to more jobs and warmer, healthier homes. Training incentives allowance and apprenticeship schemes offset by a fair Capital Gains Tax. A reasonable commercial irrigation charge that will be put back into helping farmers to plant riparian strips and fence off stock from rivers. A (paid) conservation corps for unemployed youth to get them meaningful work and training doing things like controlling wilding pines, riparian planting and pest trapping.
- 2011
Wairarapa
Results - Progress
| Name | Votes | |
|---|---|---|
| 35315 | ||
| 10050 | ||
| 2595 | ||
| 1401 | ||
| 621 | ||
| 326 |
