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Innovation, Collaboration and Prosperity   

Why I'm a Hamilton City Councillor

I love Hamilton and see my role on the city council as a key way to both utilise my passions and skills for the betterment of this city and region and also as an opportunity to give back and serve.

Our city is poised for growth and is the 4th largest economy in New Zealand with a goal to be the third largest. We must seize this opportunity to ensure we can be a large place of employment, tourism and thriving industry. With our tech and research base we can be the Silicon Valley of New Zealand. With energetic, proactive and forward-thinking councillors we can drive Hamilton to maximise the opportunity in front of us NOW.

Hamilton is a great place for families to live, work, train and grow.

Hamilton is a great place for families to live, work, train and grow.

What Qualifies Me to be a Councillor?

I have lived in and around Hamilton city for nearly 30 years. In the recessionary environment of 2009 I developed a successful, market leading business starting from scratch. I employ staff who live and work in the city and we serve thousands of residential and commercial customers in Hamilton. I also have a franchise operation in the Bay of Plenty. Our business has been able to contribute to many local charitable causes such as Rotary’s annual event ‘Circus Quirkus’ for children with special needs, Autism NZ and the annual special needs childrens’ party, and the McKenzie Centre to name a few.

I run a free business networking and business development group called ‘Inspire Hamilton’ in partnership with The Waikato Chamber of Commerce. This group supports local business development and growth with a holistic view to nurture strong families, philanthropy and community support. The group has been going since 2007.

I am on the fundraising committee of Neuro Research Charitable Trust and its desire to find a cure for Parkinsons and other degenerative brain conditions. In 2010 I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies from the University of Waikato, after being selected for a scholarship from the Waikato Chamber of Commerce.

I am a member of the Institute of Directors. I have been married since 2000 and we have three children.

Current Issues

Innovate and Collaborate for Prosperity

Innovation

I believe council has done some really good things in the last term but we can’t become complacent in our approach. We must continue to drive efficiencies that deliver cost effective and prudent results for rate payers.

Collaboration

There are many groups of organised individuals achieving great things outside of Council that need the autonomy to just get on with them. For example:

  • The Embassy Park Working Group of the Riff Raff Public Art Trust was able to raise $200,000 and contribute in both a significant and positive way to the arts and CBD appeal.
  • MESH’s recent “Tongue of the Dog’ is another sterling example.
  • The recent Donny Trust donation of $1 million to Momentum in support of the River Plan and Ferrybank.
  • The collaboration with Council for ‘The People’s Project’ is another approach helping get genuine homeless people off the streets with sustainable outcomes and setting an example for other regions and cities.
  • The recent indication from Momentum of a $20 million contribution towards the Founders Rebuild!

These are tremendous. We need to build on what our tourism and economic development agencies have done and stop being so damn quiet about this great place!

Prosperity

Continue to boost, support and enable economic initiatives and commercial activity that support trade, business and employment in and through Hamilton and the Waikato and drive dollars into our local economy. Hamilton is in a great position to continue long term growth with both the North Port and adventure park, Zeelong and the Ruakura inland port. I am a key advocate for economic growth and striving to make Hamilton and the Waikato a great place to work, live and raise families.

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Authorised by Ryan Hamilton, PO Box 10285, Te Rapa, Hamilton

Email: ryan@hamilton4hamilton.co.nz