Vote Harry Pearson - Stoke/Tāhunanui

05/10/2022

I am extremely disappointed by the NCA’s advert in yesterday’s Nelson Weekly.
I have previously asked if we, as candidates, could proofread the NCA adverts before they go to print, and I was told that that was not going to happen.
Personal attacks are not endorsed or supported by me. I want to have a great relationship with all those that are fortunate enough to be elected on to our Council, and if elected, to work as a part of the Council team to deliver what’s best for Nelson and it’s future.
I can assure you that I have had no input at all with any of the NCA adverts.
Nga mihi,
Harry

05/10/2022

Have you voted yet?

Robert Thompson wrote: "Participation is imperative. “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” (George Jean Nathan). By not exercising your right to vote, you empower, enable and inadvertently support “bad officials.”

Vote because apathy is a disease that we can stop. Vote because you have no right to complain if you don't. Vote because nobody will represent your own interests but you." Vote because this could be the most important local body election of your life

If you haven't received your voting papers, you can do a special vote at the Nelson City Council Customer Service Centre, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, which will also be open this Saturday the 8th from 0900 until the close of voting at 1200.

It's too late to postal vote, so you can now only use the orange ballot bins. There's a list of locations here under 'Where to vote': https://shape.nelson.govt.nz/local-elections-2022/voters

Vote Harry Pearson #1 and I'll get things done.

27/09/2022

There’s a problem… so I’m standing for Nelson City Council

We all want our money to go further so we can do what we love with the people we love.

But rising costs have left Nelsonians worried about paying their bills and providing for their families. In fact, our cost of living has reached a new high.

Now, more than ever, we need to be confident that our elected Council won’t waste our money on initiatives that we don’t want or need.

It’s not right that costs are going up and life isn’t getting any better. It shouldn’t be this way.
We must tackle the issues that really matter.

I’m known for getting things done and I’ve been listening to what you really want:

1. MORE rental accommodation
To keep our top talent in Nelson…

✅ Let’s stop families from having to live in caravans and motels
✅ Let’s create accommodation for our workforce
✅ Let’s make sure there’s housing for our children when they need it

2. MORE solar power
To future-proof our energy and keep our bills low…

✅ Let’s stop being dependent on the rest of the country for our power
✅ Let’s harness the energy of our sunny city
✅ Let’s lead the way in eco-power and be known as NZ’s Solar City

3. MORE native planting
To make the land more resilient and increase biodiversity…

✅ Let’s stop landslips and flooding problems
✅ Let’s improve soil structure and create habitats for our wildlife
✅ Let’s be known as NZ’s Largest City Reserve

I believe I can future-proof our city, so the financial well-being of our community improves. I’m qualified in business, science, tourism and engineering and I know how to achieve MORE for you. But if you don’t vote, nothing will change.

Vote Harry Pearson #1 and I’ll get things done.

P.S. Tell me what really matters to you. I’m here to help.

P.P.S. To vote, just take your voting card from your letterbox to your nearest voting station before the 8 Oct and put #1 next to my name.

P.P.P.S. Please encourage your friends and family to vote.

24/09/2022

Enjoying another sunny day in Nelson with some fellow cyclists - the wonderful team from Nelsust: https://www.facebook.com/Nelsust

If we really want to reduce congestion on our roads as well as our emissions, then encouraging people to use public transport and E-bikes is the quickest and most sustainable way to achieve this.
It makes no sense to me that banks will lend up to $80,000 at 1% interest to buy an EV but if you would rather cycle to work or don't want a massive debt, then you have to pay 13% interest if you need to borrow money to buy an E-bike.

We can combat climate and still have a prosperous city, but we all need to work together and have sensible policies aimed at achieving this.

I have always found cycling is fabulous for both my physical and mental health, so if you haven't tried it yet, give it a go. I've finally managed to upgrade my bike - this was my first day out on my Hydrid E-Bike designed locally by Frank New Zealand https://hybridbikes.co.nz/ and I'm loving it. Once on council, my plan is to cycle to work on the fine days and catch the bus on the wet days.

Think you can't afford a bicycle, well think again. We are extremely fortunate to have Bike Hub Nelson, a not-for-profit organisation fixing donated bikes for those in need: https://www.facebook.com/BikeHubNelson

Vote Harry Pearson #1 and I'll get things done.

24/09/2022

Meeting our local MP, Rachel Boyack. If I'm fortunate enough to be elected onto our council, I want to 'hit the ground running'. So, I'm trying to find out as much as possible what central government can do to help us reach our 'zero 2050 emissions target' and help make our city more efficient, resilient and prosperous.

Obviously I had lots of questions, but a key question is:
Why is our government and the banks supporting the sales of EVs and doing nothing to support E-bikes, as a form of transport? It is not equitable.

If we really want to reduce congestion on our roads as well as our emissions, then encouraging people to use public transport and E-bikes is the quickest and most sustainable way to achieve this.

It makes no sense to me that banks will lend up to $80,000 at 1% interest to buy an EV but if you would rather cycle to work or don't want a massive debt, then you have to pay 13% interest if you need to borrow money to buy an E-bike.

We can combat climate and still have a prosperous city, but we all need to work together and have sensible policies aimed at achieving this.

This was my first day out on my locally designed Hydrid E Bike and I'm loving it. Once on council, my plan is to cycle to work on the fine days and catch the bus on the wet days. Personally I find cycling is fabulous for both my physical and mental health, so if you haven't tried it yet, give it a go.

Vote Harry Pearson #1 and I'll get things done.

23/09/2022

What's stopping you using our bus service? Would you switch to using buses if they were more frequent? Please let me know - I'm listening - just pm me or text me your thoughts to 027 407 2074.

The new electric bus service starting in July 2023 is disappointing and won't provide the service we all need and deserve. We need a council that will fight for at least an adequate service, not an inadequate one.
Until we get buses running every 10 to 15 minutes during peak hour, buses will never get the support they need to make them efficient. If you miss the bus and only have to wait 10 to 15 minutes, that's fine. If you have to wait half an hour, then that can stuff up your whole day (and your bosses!).
We already have a bus service running every 1/2 an hour between Richmond and Nelson, so despite what the attached article says, the actual service for those living in Richmond and Nelson is not improving. To improve this service, by my calculations we need at least 20 buses.
It's a start, but unfortunately many people won't support it because they will find the lack of service inconvenient and because of this others will complain because we're wasting money on buses that aren't being used.
Check out: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2209/S00462/its-electrifying-nelson-tasmans-bus-service-is-going-electric.htm

As an engineer and business owner, my philosophy is if you're going to do something, spend a bit of extra money and do the job right the first time.
What you need to do is vote for councillors that will do this for you, whether it's bus services, infrastructure or housing. Vote Harry Pearson #1 now!

More frequent, more environmentally friendly, and more widespread is the promise of a new contract awarded to local operator Nelson Coachlines SBL to deliver Nelson-Tasman's bus service for the next nine years. The contract will replace the existing bus fleet ...

21/09/2022

There is a Meet the Candidates evening TONIGHT at 7.00pm at the Victory Community Centre. If you're concerned about Climate Change and would like to know how Council Candidates would like to make Nelson more resilient and our city a leader in combating climate change, then this is the one to go to:

https://nelsontasmanclimateforum.ning.com/events/not-your-normal-candidates-meeting-1

For those people who live in Tahunanui on Princes Drive or any of the roads going off the southern end of Princes Drive, their children can no longer get directly to the schools and sports fields in Stoke, Tahunanui or Nelson via walking or cycling tracks as they are ALL closed due to slips.
We need to make are walking and cycling tracks more resilient so that our children aren't forced to use roads to get to school.

Nelsust (Nelson Sustainable Transport) invites you to a fun candidates meeting.  These really are different to the normal candidates meeting  - there will be no long boring speeches from people at the end of a long hall, there will be no heckling.   Rather as we will be all sitting aroun around i...

19/09/2022

It's World Car Free Day this Thursday and the weather's looking lovely and fine for anyone who has the opportunity to bike rather than drive. Check out:

World Carfree Day is a movement that began in 2000, after decades of action by different organisations internationally. It brings communities together to consider new ways of getting from A to B and ditching the car when they can.