Mayor and Chief Executive visit to Wellington

Monique Croon and Chief Executive Paul Eagle visited Wellington recently for a round of meetings with Cabinet Ministers from the new Coalition Government.

“We were warmly received, listened to and invited to come back with a plan of what we need for our Islands’ future,” said Monique.

“We outlined our funding priorities – a shipping solution, increased council support for water infrastructure to enable more homes to be built and projects that strengthen our fishing and farming communities.”

Ministers applauded the development of a 30-year plan and an “Island Deal”, the mechanism to enable us to get future government support and investment.

Mayor Monique Croon, Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Winston Peters, and CE Paul Eagle

Connecting with MPs

Meetings were held with the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Winston Peters, where the 150th Anniversary celebrations for the Chatham Islands Jockey Club were discussed.

Hon Mark Mitchell and Hon Nicole McKee provided a positive response to the relocation of the police station and Courthouse to the emergency services and works hub currently under development.

Our outstanding conservation work and the mahi of Te Puni Kokiri and Whānau Ora was showcased with Hon Tama Potaka, and we highlighted our funding concerns and need for a transport pathway with Local Government Minister Hon Simeon Brown.

Hon Chris Bishop provided us advice for our City/Regional Deal – it’ll be known as the “Island Deal”, the mechanism to engage for future Crown funding, we outlined our 30 year plan framework and housing needs.

Hon Mark Patterson is looking forward to working with us on our needs as a rural and isolated community, and seeing what funds we need as part of the Government’s new Regional Infrastructure Plan.

There are several other appointments still to be confirmed including Hon Shane Jones, the fisheries Minister, and Hon Brooke van Velden, the Internal Affairs Minister.

CE Paul Eagle, Hon Nicole McKee and Mayor Monique Croon