Urban planner and transport adviser, Peri Zee will be an opponent for Wayne Guppy in the next local elections, which are still 17 months away.

She is running on a “time for a change” platform. She is 31 years old, and has no previous experience in local government politics. She supports kerbside recycling, fixing Upper Hutt’s potholes, and building cycle lanes. She also says that the recent angst about the rates increases, and a petition for them, has had nothing to do with her putting her name forward now.

She says that the city has not adapted to it’s recent period of growth, which includes a boom in residential properties, as well as the New Zealand Central Institute of Sport where the CIT used to be located, and Lane Street Studios – A lot of families have settled in Upper Hutt and the council must do more to provide more facilities like cycleways and green spaces.

She also says that the council should be investing more in the city centre to make it more attractive to families, and when it comes to infrastructure coming under pressure, her policy is “make growth pay for growth” – have developers pay their fair share towards new infrastructure.

Wayne Guppy has been mayor since 2001 and says he welcomes a contest.

A brief background on Peri Zee

Originally from the Wairarapa, Zee moved to Upper Hutt as a youngster and lives rurally.

Her qualification include a degree in business studies, including a year studying economics and politics in Amsterdam, and a post-graduate diploma in resource and environmental planning.

Source: The Post

10/06/24