GROWING BUSINESS: I vote we turn out in numbers

YESTERDAY I logged on to MS Outlook diary system, and booked a 15-minute appointment for all 10 of my Chamber team members on Monday, September 17.
The purpose of the appointment is to give them the opportunity to complete their Tauranga City Council voting papers.
I specifically set aside time for them so there is no excuse not to vote. I am prepared to invest my staff's time because I believe it's vital for the business community that we take leadership and turn around the dismal voting record in Tauranga.
The public's interest and participation in the last seven elections has steadily been declining - 1989 (61 per cent turnout), 1992 (60 per cent), 1995 (54.3 per cent), 1998 (54 per cent), 2001 (51 per cent), 2004 (46 per cent), and 2007 (44 per cent).
This is appalling, and we have to do something about it.
Obviously, there are many drivers influencing this worrying trend, but most people would agree poor electoral participation is not good for our community.
Through this column, we appeal to businesses to show strong leadership and motivate staff to vote.
The fewer people voting means it's more likely that Tauranga is going to get captured by narrow, sectarian interests, with an agenda that will not have the community's greater good in mind.
Conversely, its obvious that the more people who vote, the broader the representation of the community.
It's important that we choose leaders who are intelligent, hard-working and who we can trust to make well-considered decisions on our behalf.
Some of the many reasons why the business community should get more people voting are listed below.
Firstly, there's going to be big legislative changes in the Building Act and Resource Management Act. These are hugely important to Tauranga's biggest industry - building, construction and property development.
Secondly, high quality councillors will see the benefits of working as a team. We are less likely to have a divisive council if they have been chosen by a broad-based voting public.
Thirdly, our councillors need to have a sense of vision about where they see Tauranga in the next 10 to 20 years. If they can articulate this vision prior to the election, then we, the voters, will know how they are likely to perform in the next three to six years.
Fourthly, it would be great to see elected members who are able to think beyond an obsession with lowering rates.
It would be refreshing to see a "return on investment" mentality in our city's financial structure rather than obsessively cutting costs without considering the long-term consequences.
Fifthly, it's important that councillors buy-in to the fundamental identity of our city as being growth oriented.
As far as the business community is concerned, generally speaking, growth is good, and we need councillors who are committed to attracting productive people.
We need strong council support on policies that influence job creation and economic development.
We need Tauranga to become a major destination for visitors, and to understand the influence arts and leisure amenities have in attracting skilled people, business and investment.
To achieve these things we all need to influence our staff, families and friends to vote before election day on October 9.
Who they vote for is a personal choice, but if this city is going to grow and prosper, the whole community needs to vote.
Max Mason is chief executive of Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, which provides networking and support services for local businesses. He can be contacted on email: max@tauranga.org.nz or phone: (07) 577 9823.