Kāpiti Coast District Council – 2022 candidates’ climate action survey

The door into Council is wide open – very wide open!

We invited all candidates running for mayor and councillor positions on the Kāpiti Coast District Council in the 2022 local government election to answer our survey on climate action. There were responses from 13 candidates. These are all presented below question by question, to allow comparison.

NamePosition(s) being sought
Bernie RandallParaparaumu ward councillor
Chris MitchellMayor
Gerald PonsfordWaikanae ward councillor
Ian PowellDistrictwide councillor
Janet HolborowMayor
Kate Thomson Districtwide councillor
Lawrence KirbyDistrictwide councillor
Liz KohDistrictwide councillor
Maria McMillanDistrictwide councillor
Martin HallidayMayor, Paraparaumu ward councillor
Michelle LewisMayor, Districtwide councillor
Nigel WilsonWaikanae ward councillor
Sophie HandfordPaekakariki/Raumati ward councillor

KCDC candidates that are not listed above did not respond. Note, community board and regional council candidates were not part of this survey.

1. Councils and Climate Change: How important do you think these actions are?

“I believe councils have an obligation to take a greater leadership position on reducing their own emissions and advocating to central government for greater action on climate issues.”
Bernie Randall3 – strongly agree
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly agree
Gerald Ponsford3 – strongly agree
Ian Powell3 – strongly agree
Janet Holborow3 – strongly agree
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat agree
Lawrence Kirby3 – strongly agree
Liz Koh3 – strongly agree
Maria McMillan3 – strongly agree
Martin Halliday3 – strongly agree
Michelle Lewis3 – strongly agree
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly agree
Sophie Handford3 – strongly agree
“I believe councils have an obligation to reduce their emissions in ways that will be beneficial to businesses, residents and communities.”
Bernie Randall3 – strongly agree
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly agree
Gerald Ponsford3 – strongly agree
Ian Powell3 – strongly agree
Janet Holborow3 – strongly agree
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly agree
Lawrence Kirby3 – strongly agree
Liz Koh3 – strongly agree
Maria McMillan3 – strongly agree
Martin Halliday3 – strongly agree
Michelle Lewis3 – strongly agree
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly agree
Sophie Handford3 – strongly agree
“I think we need to make some changes but not too quickly or this will ‘rock the boat’ too much.”
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat agree
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly agree
Gerald Ponsford1 – disagree
Ian Powell1 – disagree
Janet Holborow1 – disagree
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat agree
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat agree
Liz Koh1 – disagree
Maria McMillan1 – disagree
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat agree
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat agree
Nigel Wilson1 – disagree
Sophie Handford1 – disagree
“I am neutral on climate change – I will support what the council as a whole decides to do.”
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat agree
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly agree
Gerald Ponsford1 – disagree
Ian Powell1 – disagree
Janet Holborow1 – disagree
Kate Thomson 1 – disagree
Lawrence Kirby1 – disagree
Liz Koh1 – disagree
Maria McMillan1 – disagree
Martin Halliday1 – disagree
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat agree
Nigel Wilson1 – disagree
Sophie Handford1 – disagree
“I think the risk of climate change has been exaggerated and should not be treated as an emergency.”
Bernie Randall1 – disagree
Chris Mitchell1 – disagree
Gerald Ponsford1 – disagree
Ian Powell1 – disagree
Janet Holborow1 – disagree
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly agree
Lawrence Kirby1 – disagree
Liz Koh1 – disagree
Maria McMillan1 – disagree
Martin Halliday1 – disagree
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat agree
Nigel Wilson1 – disagree
Sophie Handford1 – disagree

2. Transport: How important do you think these actions are?

More electric or hybrid vehicles in the Council fleet and the fleets used by Council suppliers
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Advocating for bus and rail transport that is more frequent, reliable, and that uses renewable energy
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 3 – very important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Advocating for the extension of electric commuter rail to Ōtaki
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important, 3 – very important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Infrastructure and policies to support an increase in safer cycling and walking
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 3 – very important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Continued KCDC support to keep the Kāpiti Airport open.
Bernie Randall1 – not important
Chris Mitchell1 – not important
Gerald Ponsford1 – not important
Ian Powell1 – not important, 2 – somewhat important
Janet Holborow2 – somewhat important
Kate Thomson 3 – very important
Lawrence Kirby1 – not important
Liz Koh1 – not important
Maria McMillan1 – not important
Martin Halliday1 – not important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson2 – somewhat important
Sophie Handford1 – not important
Additional-comments-on-transport-1Download

3. Intensification: How important do you think these actions are?

Intensification around transport hubs, town centres, papakainga housing and local centres as proposed in Plan Change 2.
Bernie Randall1 – not important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Supporting the establishment by mana whenua of papakāinga housing as Proposed in Plan Change 2
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat important
Chris Mitchell2 – somewhat important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Restricting development on new greenfields sites
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat important
Chris Mitchell1 – not important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell1 – not important
Janet Holborow1 – not important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh2 – somewhat important
Maria McMillan2 – somewhat important
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson2 – somewhat important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Protecting and enhancing existing green space, waterways and forest
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Constraining urban development to current city/town boundaries
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat important
Chris Mitchell1 – not important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell2 – somewhat important
Janet Holborow2 – somewhat important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh2 – somewhat important
Maria McMillan2 – somewhat important
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat important
Michelle Lewis1 – not important
Nigel Wilson2 – somewhat important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Supporting protection of the district’s highly productive soils
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Maintaining and increasing the amount of urban tree cover
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Additional-comments-on-intensification-1Download

4. Walking and cycling: How important do you think these actions are?

Lowering speed limits in town centres and near schools (e.g. to 30kph) and on local streets (e.g. to 40kph)
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 1 – not important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh2 – somewhat important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Removing some on-street car parks to create protected cycle ways and provide more bicycle parking in town centres
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh2 – somewhat important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Advocating for more and better options to take bicycles on public transport
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell2 – somewhat important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh2 – somewhat important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Additional-comments-on-walking-and-cycling-1Download

5. Waste: How important do you think these actions are?

Reducing waste within council activities and their supply chain
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis1 – not important, 3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Introducing a food waste collection scheme to produce compost and divert from landfill
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Supporting collection and disposal of solid waste that reduces GHG emissions (e.g. electric collection fleet, high percentage of landfill gas capture)
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Supporting increased recycling of ‘hard to recycle materials’ locally e.g. soft plastics, polystyrene, industrial, construction and commercial waste
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Additional-comments-on-waste-1Download

6. Energy efficiency and renewable energy: How important do you think these actions are?

Increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy production at existing council facilities
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Requiring new developments and Council buildings to meet NZ Green Building Council standards
Bernie Randall2 – somewhat important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby3 – very important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Ensuring Council suppliers are measuring and reducing their carbon footprints
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford2 – somewhat important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh3 – very important
Maria McMillan3 – very important
Martin Halliday2 – somewhat important
Michelle Lewis2 – somewhat important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Actively support business development of local renewable electricity generation
Bernie Randall3 – very important
Chris Mitchell3 – very important
Gerald Ponsford3 – very important
Ian Powell3 – very important
Janet Holborow3 – very important
Kate Thomson 2 – somewhat important
Lawrence Kirby2 – somewhat important
Liz Koh2 – somewhat important
Maria McMillan2 – somewhat important
Martin Halliday3 – very important
Michelle Lewis3 – very important
Nigel Wilson3 – very important
Sophie Handford3 – very important
Additional-comments-on-energy-efficiency-1-1Download

7. Advocacy. Would you support the Council advocating to central government on these matters?

Emissions reduction
Bernie Randall3 – strongly support
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly support
Gerald Ponsford3 – strongly support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 2 – support
Lawrence Kirby2 – support
Liz Koh3 – strongly support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday3 – strongly support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support
Just transition measures
Bernie Randall2 – support
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly support
Gerald Ponsford2 – support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly support
Lawrence Kirby2 – support
Liz Koh2 – support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday3 – strongly support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support
Support for urban intensification and establishing the associated infrastructure
Bernie Randall2 – support
Chris Mitchell1 – not support
Gerald Ponsford2 – support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly support
Lawrence Kirby3 – strongly support
Liz Koh3 – strongly support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday3 – strongly support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support
Support for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
Bernie Randall2 – support
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly support
Gerald Ponsford3 – strongly support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly support
Lawrence Kirby3 – strongly support
Liz Koh3 – strongly support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday3 – strongly support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support
Support for transport mode shift to cycling and walking
Bernie Randall3 – strongly support
Chris Mitchell2 – support
Gerald Ponsford2 – support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 2 – support
Lawrence Kirby2 – support
Liz Koh2 – support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday2 – support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support
Support for greener building standards
Bernie Randall3 – strongly support
Chris Mitchell2 – support
Gerald Ponsford3 – strongly support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly support
Lawrence Kirby3 – strongly support
Liz Koh3 – strongly support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday3 – strongly support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support
Support for higher energy efficiency standards
Bernie Randall3 – strongly support
Chris Mitchell3 – strongly support
Gerald Ponsford2 – support
Ian Powell3 – strongly support
Janet Holborow3 – strongly support
Kate Thomson 3 – strongly support
Lawrence Kirby3 – strongly support
Liz Koh3 – strongly support
Maria McMillan3 – strongly support
Martin Halliday3 – strongly support
Michelle Lewis2 – support
Nigel Wilson3 – strongly support
Sophie Handford3 – strongly support

8. Examples of past climate action advocacy

Additional-comments-on-climate-action-1Download

Low Carbon Kāpiti is a grassroots community organisation made up of local people who want to see more action to reduce the causes of the climate crisis (aka climate change).

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