Candidates
A group of locals with a team of expert supporters who love Kāpiti and wish to make it easy to live here again
We work together on key issues, with a shared purpose and maintain individual voices beyond our core pillars
Chris Harwood
Chris Harwood is a mum, grand-mum and recently retired resident of Kāpiti. She is member of Concerned Ratepayers of Kāpiti, a small group of dedicated people fighting to make sure Kāpiti is an affordable place to live. She sees an urgent need to make sure our Council listens to understand what’s important to our community and that it takes those views into its decision making. She wants members of the Kāpiti community to have open and transparent access to information so they can be informed participants in decision making with Council.
Chris has had a long career in the public service as an educator and most recently, working in a central government agency. She has a reputation for getting things done and brings extensive experience in operational policy development and monitoring for outcomes, including through contract and budget management. She understands how to work with people, to listen critically and to find solutions together.
Chris knows that change of any kind is complex and that is why she is standing with a group of people who have committed to work together to make sure the community’s views and interests come first. She will work with honesty and integrity to turn the Council around so that it focuses on core services and reduces planned rates increases.
The Kāpiti district needs people on the inside to identify and fight against wasteful and unnecessary spending. Chris is standing to be on the inside to work on your behalf.
Joanne Welch
Joanne Welch has been a dedicated Kāpiti resident for nearly 35 years, raising her three children in this vibrant community during a time when affordability, reasonable rates, and commonsense defined the area. With a professional background in finance, sales, and lobbying, she has a proven track record of enacting positive change through critical thinking and effective advocacy. She is aware of the challenges she will be facing to enacting change at a local government level and that is why she is part of a team of highly skilled, experienced people, that together can stand strong.
Joanne is deeply passionate about preserving the essence of Kāpiti and ensuring it remains a great place to live for all. She empathises with young people grappling with high rents, families navigating the challenges of mortgages, and seniors on pensions, all facing the strain of rising rates and insurance costs.
Driven by her love for the community, Joanne is committed to championing democracy over bureaucracy, promoting affordability, and giving residents their voice back. She stands ready to fight for what is right, ensuring Kāpiti thrives as a place where people can live, work, raise their families and retire. Known for her determination and genuine connection to the community, Joanne is focused on delivering what the people of Kāpiti truly need and want. She will listen.
Dean Harris
Dean Harris brings decades of experience as a campaigner, entrepreneur, and community advocate, with a lifelong interest in central and local government. With a career spanning finance, sales and marketing, importing, and construction, Dean has successfully collaborated with businesses and individuals across New Zealand to achieve practical results.
Dean’s commitment to community is evident in his actions, including organising relief efforts for Cyclone Gabrielle victims and advocating for transparency in local government planning. A firm believer in the phrase “charity begins at home”, his focus is on reducing excessive regulation and wasteful spending, ensuring council sets a priority on core responsibilities and fair policy implementation.
Dean envisions a thriving Kāpiti Coast, driven by sustainable economic growth, housing affordability, and balanced decision-making. He stands for simplified regulations, and empowering the community to set a clear, shared vision for the region’s future.
Martin Frauenstein
Martin Frauenstein is a dedicated Kāpiti Coast resident who has called the district home since 2019. Drawn to Kāpiti by a leadership role with the Ministry of Health - where he was jointly responsible for the design of New Zealand’s National Health Information Platform - Martin quickly grew to appreciate the region’s slower pace of life, easy access to the beach, and its warm, supportive community.
A committed community volunteer and member of Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish, Martin is standing to restore transparency, accountability, and common sense to Council.
He believes rates must deliver clear benefits to residents, and decisions must be made with honesty and openness. Known for asking the hard questions and listening well, Martin is ready to stand up for everyday ratepayers and help make Kāpiti a more affordable, well-governed place to live.