On behalf of the Matt for Mayor campaign can I say how saddened we all are at the impact the events of the last week have had on so many Nelsonians’ lives.

Our sympathies are with everyone who has suffered damage to their homes, businesses and lives. The destruction that the deluge has wrought is yet another reminder that we live in challenging times.

At the same time, the inspiring way Nelsonians have united in response to the emergency has been a brilliant reminder of what a caring and resilient community this is.

Thinking about the next term of Council, there are valuable lessons that need to be learnt from that response.

It’s important that our next Mayor is someone who is dedicated to uniting this city. We need someone in the job with a deep understanding of this community, significant experience on Council and a determinedly positive attitude to do everything they can to bring the city together to help us recover, rebuild and move forward.

We need a Mayor with energy, empathy, people skills, communication skills and a commitment to doing everything they can to get us back on track. We also need a Mayor who takes climate change seriously.

There is no question that the next term will largely be devoted to rebuilding. Despite the challenge this presents, I believe our city can have a very bright future.

Whether we get there or not will largely depend on the decisions we make at this election. We can choose to follow the example of successful cities around the world and become a more people-focused, liveable and prosperous place, or we can do things the way we’ve always done them and go backwards.

I know what kind of city I want for our children and grandchildren and believe my track record of championing progressive change over nine years on Council demonstrates that I’m up for the job.

I’m standing for Mayor because I want to lead a more unified Council that leads a strong recovery while getting better results in housing, transport, the environment and economic development, without unnecessarily increasing your rates.

I’m a self-employed husband, father, dog-owner, footballer, volunteer, art lover and mountainbiker and I’m ready to step up for this city that we all love. To read how we can make this an even better place for everyone, please visit mattlawrey.co.nz.