Introductions
From:
Alec Neill
Date:
2007 Jul 15 23:09 UTC
Short link
Hi everybody,
My name is Alec Neill and I am a Canterbury Regional Council Councillor, often
better known as "Environment Canterbury" or "Ecan". I am delighted to have
been invited to be the guest speaker this forum from July 17th to July 23rd
2007. This is a new experience for me. I hope during the next week other
members of the forum will take the opportunity examine and cross examine me at
length on issues "close to your heart"
ALEC NEILL the person - A thumb nail sketch. I am 56 years old, a lawyer by
qualification, an Environment Canterbury Councillor, a company director and a
RMA commissioner. Nicky Wagner and I were together elected to Environment
Canterbury in a by-election in April 2003 – the by-election resulting from the
deaths of Peter Yeoman and Neil Cherry. We represent the constituency of
Christchurch West. Nicky is retiring in October and Rosanne Hawarden has been
selected to contest the seat with me under the ‘Independent Citizens” banner.
www.independentcitizens.co.nz
I am not Cantabrian by birth rather I am a Cantabrian by choice. I was born in
Dunedin and raised on a family farm at Allen's Beach on the Otago Peninsula. I
attended the Hooper’s Inlet primary school, a very small rural one teacher
school before going to St Kevin's College in Oamaru as a border. When I left
school I wanted to be a farmer however there was no room on the family farm,
as I was the youngest of eleven children [6 girls, 5 boys] so I attended the
university of Otago and obtained a law degree. I was a partner in the law firm
of Berry Alty & Neill (Oamaru) for 15 years before being elected to parliament
as the MP for Waitaki in 1990. I retained that seat for 6 years until the seat
of Waitaki disappeared under the MMP reorganization. My wife Diane and I shift
to Christchurch in 1997 where I practiced law and spent a further three years
as a National Party list MP.
Participants in this forum may very well ask what qualifications or life
experiences are required to be an Environment Canterbury Councillor. The
simple answer is "None. - I encourage anyone who has an interest in business
and environmental issues to stand at the next elections. Environment
Canterbury needs an injection of "good old fashioned common sense" fiscal
prudence and responsibility, and an understanding of the differing roles of
governance and management. My background involvement in the commercial sector
of the law, company administration, chairing parliament’s Environment Select
Committee and being National’s spokesperson the in such areas as Conservation,
Local Government, and RMA reform have been helpful
I am looking forward to the 2007 Local Government elections in Christchurch at
Environment Canterbury level. The community of Christchurch really will have a
choice this year between “more of the same” under 2021 Labour leadership or “A
new era at Ecan” under Independent / Independent Citizens leadership.
I have read the existing contributions under a number of topic headings. There
is no heading specific to Environment Canterbury issues so tomorrow I intend to
open a new Topic named ENVIRONMENT CANTERBURY (Ecan) ISSUES and look forward
to your contributions.
Cheers
Alec Neill
Monday 16th July 2007