If we are lucky, once in a lifetime we might get a chance to make a real difference in our community.
This year in the election for the Hawke's Bay Power Consumers' Trust you have that opportunity.
Kevin Atkinson, Chris Tremain, Barbara Arnott, Peter Dunkerley and I believe the trust should be run more transparently.
We believe consumers should have a greater say in how the dividend is distributed. We do not want to cap the dividend. We believe trustees' fees are too high and will have them reviewed.
The dividend comes from two sources: profits from the lines business and profits from other investments, (i.e. transformer manufacturing). As profits from the other businesses increase we would like to consult with consumers that could see some of the other businesses' profit invested back into our community.
Whether this happens, how much is invested and into what will be up to you. We will consult and the process will be open and transparent.
In my five years as Children's Commissioner and over 20 years of paediatric practice I've seen the extraordinary impact targeted, careful investment can have on the lives of our most vulnerable. We have some terrible social problems in Hawke's Bay but we also have remarkable, talented people and organisations I have seen make a real difference.