Chris Archer
What is the main reason you are standing for Council?
I am standing for council because I am passionate about the Martinborough region and I feel my skills sets are suited for the current issues this region faces.
What previous experience have you had in managing within a business, government agency and/or in any governance role.?
I have been in senior leadership for the past 35 years in the wine industry (Australia, New Zealand & France) from starting my own business to managing a large corporate wine company (+100 staff). Over the past 4 years I have been on the Wairarapa Wine growers committee and Marketing committee to assist in the region’s exposure and growth. My current business has led the way in innovation from an industry with extreme traditional culture while managing to bring our stakeholders on the journey and engaged for the past 14 years.
What are the three most critical issues that you feel need to be addressed in the South Wairarapa?
Water and sewerage infrastructure, the blanket halt on resource consents is unacceptable
United elected council that sharpens the council team to achieve outstanding service to its citizens with efficiencies and speed.
Transparent communication of council issues
What do you think are the main impediments to progress in the South Wairarapa?
There is never a perfect silver bullet to problems but first our region needs to own its problems instead of passing them on to the next generation or an outside contractor. We need to utilise the smarts of this region and local businesses to assist in problems our society faces.
Our current Council Wards have been a divisive component, each vying for leverage. We need a council that looks across the entire region and works together as a whole. As more federal government pressure comes to bear on local government the SWDC needs to be strong and focussed so it is well represented in the scope of the full Wairarapa region.
What do you believe could be done to boost business and increase employment in the South Wairarapa?
The biggest pain has been the stalling of the water infrastructure halting resource consents. This has broken business confidence and investment in the area. This needs sorting and fast tracking, a new body is being set up but the SWDC cannot wait for this. Further the council needs to engage with local business groups – I intend to encourage farmers, trades, Wine industry and Business Associations to meet frequently to make sure their concerns are being addressed as well as communicating the regulatory issues that the council needs to hurdle so communications are two way.
