Wed 16 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Rainbow Wellington says it’s ecstatic to have a LGBTI policy friendly council, after a move to left in the capital. The group’s patron Celia Wade-Brown has been re-elected Mayor, while Rainbow Wellington is also delighted with the make-up of the Council, “The Greens and Labour candidates who got in all support the LGBTI community as well as many of the independents,” says Chair Rawa Karetai. “We expect that they will do well and look forward to working with both the Wellington Greater Regional Council and the Wellington City Council.” Rainbow Wellington Secretary Tony Reed is a Kapiti resident and is saddened by Mayor Jenny Rowan being voted out. “She has achieved a lot here over the last few years, notably bringing to completion some projects which previous councils had failed to tackle over many years. “It is clear that some of her actions have made enemies, for example the decision to introduce water meters, and that she has been punished accordingly. I note that she was convincingly defeated, so I wonder if there was a strong ‘anti-Jenny’ vote out there. “With STV it is of course very easy to vote against a candidate as well as in favour of one. I hope that some of her initiatives, such as her keen support for queer youth, and against homophobic bullying in our schools, will continue.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 16th October 2013 - 2:20pm