Councillor's Comment

Kia ora e te whānau

I have an aversion and distrust of organisations, departments, authority and politicians – a strange way for your elected member to kick off an article. But what I do have is a great deal of faith in is this community. People are awesome and I know a lot of them.

This October, we will be running Spring Clean Whakatū Nelson. In a nutshell, a community, co-ordinated spruce up of our city. Either you can pick a spot and drag along your mates, or you can pop into some organised events.

Last year, I had a great time at Nikau Hauora Hub on Selwyn Place waterblasting, gardening, cleaning and painting. I got to do this with my friends. Awesome people modelling kaitiakitanga, community, agency, pride and service.

This year, I’d like to do some work around Pioneer Park and Community Art Works. Interesting story: Early last week, I was a first aider for a beautiful older lady in the Pioneer Park car park. She slipped on a small speed bump. While I lay on the asphalt with her waiting for the ambulance, I decided I’d be mobilising a crew to waterblast and paint the speed bumps.

I have thought for a while that Pioneer Park is an underutilised and unloved part of our town. It’s not flash and a little rough around the edges. If I had a spirit park, that would be it. Male Room, Community Art Works, Peta Spooner Academy of Dance and Giving Aroha are just a few groups associated with that area.

You don’t need anyone's permission or a special event to serve. We have the likes of Alastair Cotterill, who is constantly out in Tāhunanui cleaning pathways and parks and Alan Mant, who clears out drains on Konini St before, during and after weather events. These are just a couple in an army of Nelsonians who do more than they have to. Like I said earlier: People are awesome – and I do love a doer.

As ratepayers, we quite rightly expect a tidy city. As citizens, maybe we’ll pick up after ourselves and others. In October, between the 11th and the 19th, a lot of us will be out and about sprucing up this joint a bit. If you have an idea, a team, the capacity or inclination, please lean in with me.

Ngā mihi mahana. Thanks

Councillor Matty Anderson