Introducing Phillip Westwood
I graduated with a Bachelor Commerce Degree from Auckland University in 1972 and worked in Auckland for three years before travelling overland for five months through Asia and Europe to England where I worked as an accountant in the Pye/Phillips Group while doing my OE and travelling in Europe until I returned in New Zealand in 1978. Then I worked in Hamilton as an accountant at the Waikato Times before moving to the Government Audit Office.
In 1982 I purchased my first business, an industrial lunch bar in Killarney Rd, and for the next 20 years was self-employed in various food and entertainment businesses, which has given me detailed insight into the problems faced by small businesses. While self-employed I was also involved with the Waikato Property Investors Association and was on their committee for 10 years. I was also a volunteer on various Department of Conservation projects doing volunteer work.
In 2002 I decided on a change in career and moved to China to teach English as a foreign language. I worked in Jinan firstly as a teacher at Jinan Foreign Language School for 18 months and then Shandong University of Finance for 9 years. While working there I travelled to every province in China, including Taiwan, and gained a wide exposure to Chinese values and culture. In 2012 I returned to New Zealand with my wife and daughter and settled in Auckland to manage my private property investments.
I am now looking to put some time back into Hamilton and the Waikato in appreciation of the experiences I have had while working in Hamilton.
You are welcome to contact me via email at phil@westwood.net.nz.
Phillip Westwood
Waikato Regional Council Election Answers for Candidate Phillip Westwood
Briefly, why have you decided to stand for the Waikato Regional Council?
Phil: Now that I have retired and have more time available I have decided to stand for Waikato
regional council in order to contribute to a region that I had been given a lot when I worked in
Hamilton.
If elected to council who are you working for?
Phil: I will be working for all the residents and ratepayers and believe that the best results can be
achieved with a harmonious and co-operative committee.
Do you support the referendum on Maori Wards?
Phil: I support the referendum on Maori Wards, but I would like to see more done to encourage
people to participate so that a stronger message is sent to the government.
Will you vote to cap rates?
Phil: It is my view that rates should be capped, but they should not be capped at a flat dollar
figure. They should be capped at a base figure plus CPI increase each year. To cap at a base
figure only with no increase in that figure, would result in a lowering of services as if you have
inflation (CPI) then you are unable to provide the same level of services as you have not
provided for inflation.
It is also my view that there should be a fund established for capital replacements on assets
lasting more than five years so that people using those assets now are contributing to their
replacement in the future. The fund should have restriction so that it can only be used for
assets lasting more than five years and this would reduce the need for raising funds by
borrowing.
Given that the Council has a budget for 2025-2026 of spending $152.584 million, what financial experience do you bring to the governance table?
Phil: I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Auckland University with major in accounting,
plus I worked as an accountant for companies in England and New Zealand.
What measures will you use to judge the regional economy “robust” (as required by the Waikato Settlement Act) in 3 years?
Phil: Judging whether the “Regional economy is robust” by definition will involve economic and
financial assessments. To me these would be
a. Employment. Total number of people working and the unemployment rate
b. Number of small businesses in the region as the majority of new employment is create
by small firms. Large corporations have the financial resources to use capital rather than
labour.
Do you believe a casting vote by the Council Chairperson should be for the status quo or for change?
Phil: I do not believe that the chairperson should be required to vote for the status quo but should
encourage further consideration to get a decision. If they are still unable to get a decision they
should have the same right as other committee members to vote as they see best.
What do you believe is the most important thing for WRC’s CEO to achieve in your first term?
Phil: I believe flood protection should be enhanced and having been through the trauma of
having my home flooded I can understand and sympathise with the people who have been
through this. In some cases this may involve dredging river and clearing river bars (as with the
Wairoa River and bar or enhancing stop banks so that water flow is not impeded. But it should
also look to the future and restrict development on flood prone land.
Do you support the Governments directive to hold off implementing Plans such as PC! Until the new Legislation is enacted?
Phil: Yes I support the govt directive to hold off implementing for PC1 (Plan for Change 1). PC1
had appeals lodged in mid 2020 and an interim decision on 28 may 2025. There is still no final
decision or a bill proposed for Parliament. I think it is highly unlikely that these will be completed
and passed into legislation in the current government’s term.
How many extra staff do you believe the WRC will need to employ to successfully implement PC1?
Phil: I question how can you prepare for implementing a plan or estimate the number of staff you will need when the legislation has not
been passed and you don’t know what the responsibilities of the council will be.
Do you consider climate change a Regional or National responsibility and what actions would you require be taken by the Regional Council?
Phil: Traditionally “Climate Change” has been viewed as a national issue covered by the government and ACC because a lot of climate change (eg: 2023 Auckland Floods) has been caused by weather outside of NZ. Now it appears that they are trying to transfer this responsibility to local authorities, without transferring the funding for that additional funding.
Do you recognize the threat to our environment caused by Koi Carp? If so what action do you believe should be taken to deal with the problem?
Phil: Koi Carp are too widespread for eradication to be viable without huge damage to all
waterway biodiversity: fish, shellfish, birds and vegetation. Attempting to contain, as is being
done at present, is the only realistic choice.
Will you support rates rebates for land retired for riparian or biodiversity protection based on the pre-retirement Land Expectation Value?
Phil: A decision on what compensation is going to be paid for land retired for riparian rights and
biodiversity protection , plus flood prone land. Will depend on who the land vests in after
settlement, and what economic activity, if any, the land can be used for in the future. I do not
believe that future settlements like the Auckland Flood Prone Land Purchase Scheme are either
viable or practical, and the Auckland Council still has no stated plan as to what it will do with the
1200 properties it is acquiring.
Do you believe that pristine water is achievable for all waterways in the Region? If so how would you achieve this?
Phil: Pristine water. No I do not believe that “pristine water” is achievable. Firstly, what is pristine?
The Collins dictionary defines pristine as “involving the original unchanged and unspoilt period or
state”. With the industrial and economic development in the region (freezing works, pulp and
paper mills, farming) together with urban development and population growth that is not
possible. But we have legislation in place to minimize the damage and where there are
breaches eg discharges of effluent by industry or human waste by waste treatment plants the
fines should be heavy enough to actively discourage organization from polluting. Referring to
Auckland again, the effluent discharges into the harbour by WaterCare are so small in
comparison to the costs of compliance that there is no financial incentive to comply.
What value do you place on retaining or enhancing flood protection within the region?
Phil: I believe flood protection should be enhanced and having been through the trauma of
having my home flooded I can understand and sympathise with the people who have been
through this. In some cases this may involve dredging river and clearing river bars (as with the
Wairoa River and bar or enhancing stop banks so that water flow is not impeded. But it should
also look to the future and restrict development on flood prone land.
With regard to the Gaza War.