Wellington is pretty awesome already, but improving the public transport network is a priority - increasing capacity, frequency, and reliability. The quality and supply of housing definitely needs to be improved; the situation for students in particular is a real problem, with some truly awful flats rented out at vastly inflated rates. The "Wellywood" sign has to be stopped. And of course there's working to advance Alliance policies that would benefit the entire country, Wellington included, by reducing poverty and inequality. And I'm keen to hear about any issues the electorate's residents think are important.

Hi Sarah - I appreciate what you're saying. Despite hosting 120+ MPs here most weeks as the seat of this country's legislature, Wellington Central often feels as though it has been neglected.

I commit to being a strong local voice in the next John Key-led government, advocating on local issues. The transport reconfiguration around the Basin Reserve / second Mt Victoria tunnel; airport internationalisation (esp. more international direct flights, e.g. to Asia or North America - to support business and encourage more visitors); working with council and business to create an environment in which innovative industries such as the ICT sector can flourish; protecting the film industry in Wellington (which our opponents' policies will destory) and advancing local environmental issues such as preservation of the town belt will be areas upon which I will focus.

I am also promising to advance local bills. Last term we saw the unedifying spectacle of a non-controversial bill - around Royal Society of New Zealand reform - used to filibuster for many months. I commit to progressing local matters and not using them as a sacrifical lamb or playing petty politics with them as the incumbent has done.

Paul

I hope to keep Wellington as a living, vibrant place.

I've woken to the sounds of the Thorndon St Fair outside my window, I've studied in Kelburn, I've partied in Aro Valley, I've gone clubbed on Courtney Place.

My aim is to keep the iconic places of Wellington, that are the centres of it's culture, alive and well.

For example: While I agree the changes to Manners St have improved the traffic flow for buses, I think the loss of the centre of culture than surrounded Manner's mall, and the corner of Manner's and Cuba St are a devestating loss to Wellington. It used to be quite pleasant to walk that area of Manner's and Cuba, and my friends and I would often use the corner there as a meeting point. Yet now it feels like another souless street, no different than any other north of it in the business district. I no longer see the street buskers, people waiting for friends, or students gathering to decide where they want to head to next, and I feel Wellington has lost a part of it's wonderful vibrancy.

As a representative for Wellington Central, I would make sure the voice of the people are heard, and that the places and culture that make Wellington so wonderful are not lost to some goal of economic efficiency.

Hi Sarah,

There is a reasonably good chance that I will be elected as a MP for the Greens (at number 15 on our list, we need just under 12% of the Party Vote for me to be elected).

I have to be realistic about my chances of winning the Consituency Vote - in 2008, 28% of Wellington Central voters gave the Greens one or both their votes, but only 6% gave us both votes. In other words, Wellingtonians like to share their votes round, giving their Party Vote to the Greens and their Constituency Vote to someone else.

Nevertheless, if I am elected as a List MP, I will seek to represent my home town as best I can. I was born and grew up in Wellington Central. Even when I lived in Europe, I always thought of it as 'home' and after 15 years of working and travelling overseas I chose to return here because I honestly think it has the best quality of life of any city I've been to. I am passionately committed to Wellington and to our shared vision of a smart, green city as outlined in the Council's 2040 Vision.

I would like to work with other local MPs to form a cross-party 'Wellington Caucus' and try to build a consensus around local issues, such as transport.On the campaign trail I have come to know Grant Robertson, the incumbent MP, and Paul Foster-Bell, the National candidate, well, and I believe that we have a constructive working relationship upon which such a caucus could be built.

I would also aim to operate a local office, similar to a constituency office (depending on resources available). I know our Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, and I would seek to meet with her regularly to see what central government can do to support the Council to do it's work in looking after our city.I would like to follow her example in meeting regularly with local community groups and residents associations across the electorate to get a sense of their concerns - and I would like to put together a 'stakeholder panel' to meet with on a regular basis about local issues and what we can do together to move forward on them.

All the best,

James