Publication: ph11072012

Mason Branch believes that community boards make a difference.

Mr Branch was elected to the Petone Community Board in 2007.  “My friend Roger Styles got sick of me telling him how to run the city and suggested I should stand.”

He says the Petone board has dealt with some meaty issues in the five years he’s been on the board, such as the McKenzie Pool redevelopment and consultation over WelTec and people’s concerns over parking. 

Mr Branch says the Petone board has generally been a unified group, although there has been more friction in the current triennium. “If you put six people in a room they’ll seldom agree on everything. But we are in close orbit on most things.”

He believes the board keeps in close touch with the community it serves. “Our views are probably in line with the feelings of a majority of the community. We do a lot of consultation on a lot of issues.”

After the 2010 elections Mr Branch was chosen by his colleagues to be the board’s deputy chairman.  Mr Branch says as deputy his main role is to support chairman Gerald Davidson and fill in for him at events he is unable to attend. ‘’I go to meetings as his wingman. We take turns writing submissions.”

As a board member Mr Branch says the achievement he is most proud off is successfully pushing for an upgrade of Petone’s public toilets.   “Money from the sale of the old Plunket rooms was earmarked for public toilets. I’ve just had budget confirmation that the toilets in Hikoikoi Reserve are to be replaced and new toilets built at the end of Bay St.”

Although not many politicians like claiming credit for public toilets, Mr Branch says they are important for a lot of people.

And as moves start to reform the structure of local government in Wellington, the continued existence of community boards has come into question. Mr Branch says they should stay.  “Under a super-city model they become even more important.”

Mr Branch, a Korokoro resident, works as a freelance videographer and as a projectionist at Petone’s Light House Cinema. He says he intends offering himself for re-election at next year’s local body elections. “I really enjoy being on the board.”