Retired Pharmacist And Business Owner, David Ross, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For Motueka Ward
ACT Local has selected David Ross a retired pharmacist, business owner, and long-time rural healthcare advocate, as its candidate for the Motueka Ward for the Tasman District Council in this year's local election.
After more than four decades in healthcare, business, and rural advocacy, Mahana local Dave Ross has put his name forward to represent the Motueka community on the Tasman District Council.
A retired pharmacist and experienced business owner, Dave has long been involved in rural healthcare and governance. He and his wife have lived on their lifestyle block in Mahana for the past 20 years, and raised three children — now with three grandchildren of their own.
He says the decision to stand came from a desire to see greater accountability and real consultation in local government.
'I'm standing for the Tasman District Council because our community deserves to be heard,not sidelined by bureaucracy or ideology. After years in pharmacy, business, and health advocacy, I know what it takes to listen, to lead, and to deliver results. I want to bring that experience to the table and help make sure ratepayers are treated with the respect they deserve.' – David Ross
Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects.
When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting:
ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:
' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Strengthening Integrity Of Immigration System
Minister of Immigration The Government is taking another step to strengthen the fiscal sustainability and integrity of the immigration system following the successful first reading of the Immigration (Fiscal Sustainability and System Integrity) Amendment Bill. 'Our immigration system needs to be smart, responsive and flexible to keep pace with the changing geopolitical context. The changes proposed will help ensure our settings appropriately respond to risk and are sustainable,' Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says. 'The Bill introduces appropriate safeguards in the system for vulnerable people and implements legislative recommendations from two independent King's Counsel (KC) reviews of the immigration system. It also offers pragmatic updates to keep the Act current and support efficient visa processing.' Changes include: Introducing appropriate safeguards in the system for vulnerable people, including refugees and protection claimants, as recommended in the 2022 Victoria Casey review. Introducing a requirement for a judicial warrant for any 'out-of-hours' compliance activity, as recommended in the 2023 Micheal Heron review. Tightening some settings so that more instances of migrant exploitation can be prosecuted, and strengthening consequences for residence class visa holders who commit criminal offences. Ensuring the system is flexible to respond to unusual events, such as natural disasters. Other changes, such as the options to expand the immigration levy payer base and create a new immigration levy in the future, will enable a greater sharing of the costs of the immigration, although there is no intent to implement these changes this year. 'These sensible and timely changes will help futureproof the immigration system, and better balance the integrity of the immigration system with the rights of individuals,' Ms Stanford says.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
New Zealand's Ties With Netherlands Reaffirmed
Rt Hon Christopher Luxon Prime Minister Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, to mark 60 years of diplomatic representation between New Zealand and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 'The Netherlands is one of New Zealand's oldest and closest friends. Our people share strong bonds, enriched by the 150,000 New Zealanders who have Dutch heritage,' Mr Luxon says. 'In our discussions, Prime Minister Schoof and I reaffirmed our commitment to global peace and security, pledged to increase bilateral trade and investment, and promote further innovation between our researchers.' The Netherlands is one of New Zealand's top export destinations within the EU. 'The Netherlands is crucial to New Zealand's economic growth. Our exports have grown by 24 percent since last year,' Mr Luxon says. 'It is New Zealand's greatest source of foreign direct investment from the EU, and it is also a base for many Kiwi businesses in Europe.' Mr Luxon will now attend the NATO Summit in the Hague.
Scoop
6 hours ago
- Scoop
Wellington City Council Taking The P*ss With Rate Hike, Toilet Blowout
ACT is slamming Wellington City Council's $2.3 million public toilet blowout ahead of its announcement of council candidates in the city. "Today, Wellingtonians opened the paper to discover their Council has spent $2.3 million on a glorified toilet block that doubles as a rainbow light show. At the same time, they learned their rates will be hiked by 12.4%," says ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton. "The link between these two stories couldn't be clearer: the Council's failure to get a handle on its exorbitant spending has led to compounding double-digit rate hikes. "Wellington City Council has abused ratepayers for long enough. Later this week, ACT Local will be announcing its candidates for Wellington City Council, as we continue to roll out challengers for council seats up and down the country. "Just down the road, ACT is working every day in the Beehive to deliver savings to taxpayers, and we've reined in inflation. But councils like Wellington are undermining our efforts. Rate hikes in most parts of the country far outpace the rate of inflation. They missed the memo on the cost of living crisis, and their refusal to face reality has reached the point of pisstaking. "ACT is clear: local councils need a wake-up call. Our candidates will fight to slash wasteful spending, deliver affordable rates, and get councils back to core business of roads and rubbish."
