E tū members have asked candidates to give their positions on our union’s key issues. Take a look at their answers below, and make sure you vote for candidates who will make the best interests of our workplaces, communities, and environment their priorities.
- These questions were asked at a public forum and candidates were given the chance to check over their answers and amend following the forum in writing.
- If a candidate does not show up on this list, they did not attend the forum as speakers.
- We invited nearly 90 candidates standing for New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), Taranaki Regional Council (TRC), Community Boards, and Stratford District Council. Due to number and time constraints, we did not invite District Health Board (DHB) candidates or South Taranaki candidates, although some candidates who attended were also standing for the DHB.
- The day after we held this forum, NPDC voted to pay directly employed staff the LW from 1 July 2020!
Question 1: Are you willing to commit to supporting your local body paying no less than the Living Wage to all directly employed staff within this election cycle?
Question 2: Are you willing to commit to supporting your local body paying no less than the Living Wage to all contracted workers within this election cycle?
Question 3: Are you willing to commit that our ratepayer money being spent to procure goods and services for our community should go to companies that pay at least the Living Wage and provide decent jobs?
Question 4: Will you commit to meaningfully supporting Just Transition Taranaki 2050 in the short and long term, including meeting with unions like E tū to put your commitment into practice if elected?
| Candidate Name | Ward/Council | Q1: Living Wage for directly employed | Q2: Living Wage for contractors | Q3: Social procurement | Q4: Just Transition |
| Rawinia Henderson | Stratford District Council – Mayor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bill Simpson | North Ward, NPDC Mayor | N/A | N/A | N/A | unclear |
| Amanda Clinton-Gohdes | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Anneka Carlson | NP City Ward | Yes | unsure | Maybe | Yes |
| Bruce Gatward-Cook | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Colin Bell | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| David Bublitz | NP City Ward | Yes | No | Maybe | Yes |
| Deb Tawa | NP City Ward | Yes | No | Maybe | Yes |
| Dinnie Moeahu | NP City Ward | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes |
| Dwayne Sherwood | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Harry Duynhoven | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Howie Tamati | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Maybe | Yes |
| Irene Godkin | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Joanne Kuvarji | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jonathan Marshall | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Katherine Blaney | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Louise James | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sarah Foy | NP City Ward | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stacey Hitchcock | NP City Ward | Yes | maybe | maybe | Yes |
| Chris Wilkes | TRC – North Taranaki | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bob Waugh | TRC – NP Constituency | No | No | No | No |
| Charlotte Littlewood | TRC – NP Constituency | Yes | support longer term | support longer term | Yes |
| Elvisa Van Der Leden | TRC – NP Constituency | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rusty Kane | TRC – NP Constituency | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key:
“Maybe” indicates where candidates were supportive but wanted more information and the opportunity to consult.
“N/A” means the candidate was not in the room for that question and did not answer after the forum.
“Unclear” means candidates didn’t want to indicate their support or otherwise until they heard from their constituents.