John McLean
My name is John Mclean .I live on Auckland’s North Shore, where for many years I have been involved in the Community such as NZ Boy Scouts and later Local Government, being an elected member of two Councils – North Shore and later Auckland Council, having served over seven election cycles in different capacities .
I am a past establishment Board Trustee of New Zealand’s first Senior High School – Albany Senior High School (ASHS), past Chairman of Albany’s Community Board (NSCC), a Chair and Board member of Albany CoCo and presently a Hearings Commissioner for Auckland Council. I am also the Chairman of ‘Furniture for Schools Charitable Trust ‘ and work as a Consultant for Pacific Assist, an organisation created to enhance the education and wellbeing of youngsters growing up in the Pacific Islands. Those young folk often come to NZ later in life to commence their careers.
My core competencies are that I am a Civil Engineer with a Business degree. I have worked for myself for the last 25yrs. That training and insight bodes well for good decision making based on factual examination and design insight together with wise management of scarce resources faced with limited Local Board Capital budgets and similarly Operating budgets .
I with several of my colleagues are independent candidates who are not aligned to any one Political party . That independence and key decision making is always ‘evidence based’ requiring strict scrutiny of budgets verse the projected costs of those projects.
That there is no pre-determination or decision making is dictated by a majority .That rate payer money is wisely spent and not wasted in any form. Frugality is a central theme and is also commensurate with knowledge and experience of process.
Moving into the future, Auckland Council is seeking more outcomes for less money. Council rates should never exceed the ability of ordinary households and businesses to afford to pay those rate increases. That no undue hardship is brought to bare upon households by indiscriminate spending. Rates affordability is a central element and responsibility of elected office.
We believe our communities should be safe at all times and that our neighbourhoods are our refuge and safe place and that the learning environment for our young people is both nurturing and education focused .That our young people are fully informed and prepared for their exciting future and to put their mark upon NZ.
The purpose of this Declaration is to help a potential voter make an informed decision and that relevant information has been provided in a timely and orderly manner. Thank you.