New Tararua councillor Alison Franklin excited to get started on representing community

Alison Franklin, of Pahiatua, is keen to get started on her duties on the Tararua District Council.

New Tararua District councillor Alison Franklin is excited to be able to represent her community around the council table.

Mrs Franklin, from Pahiatua, won the district council byelection for the south ward from five other candidates and told the Dannevirke News being a councillor was something she had always wanted to do.

"In the past my commitment to our restaurant [Black Stump, Pahiatua] had meant I couldn't make a commitment to council, but now we've tweaked things at work and it's given me this opportunity," she said.

"I want to give back to this community and think I'll bring an enthusiastic, fresh set of eyes to council.

''However, it's really hard to know what I can contribute until I get to sit around the council table."

Mrs Franklin's election was a Tararua District Council record, with four women now around the council table, said district mayor Tracey Collis.

"As well as being the highest number of female councillors, the voter turnout was up for a byelection in the district," she said.

Mrs Franklin moved to Pahiatua 42 years ago, intending to stay for just a year, and she said this district had a lot to offer.

"I want to be a strong advocate for our district, but each town needs its own identity," she said. "One thing I learned during Pahiatua's E.coli water crisis was how important communication is. I think the council handled this very well and I want this open communication to be the norm."

Promoting Tararua is vital, Mrs Franklin said.

"We need to start bragging, but a question asked at a meet-the-candidate meeting was: How can we encourage our young people to stay in our district?

"I believe we need stronger communications with our high schools and encourage Gateway placements - because when you look at the Tararua's ageing population, our supply of tradespeople is dwindling.

''You can't get a builder for love nor money, but if we can get kids into jobs in our communities they may stay here. We need them."

Mrs Franklin said Tararua needed to use its affordable housing and great amenities to encourage people who worked in the district to stay in the district.

"We need to bring back a sense of community, and communication is the way."

One project she's keen to get her teeth into is the upgrade of Pahiatua's main street.

"We're the last of the Tararua towns to go through this and I think the process will be really exciting. It's a project really dear to me," she said.

Tararua District Council South Tararua Ward byelection (1 vacancy):

FRANKLIN, Alison 627; EAGLE, Di 601; CHASE, Warren Edward 294; WINTER, Robin 241; KURIGER, Tony 139; RUMBOLD, Daniel Independent 78.