Scout Barbour-Evans
Age: 24.
Occupation: Student.
Brought up: Dunedin.
Political orientation: Former Green Party member, politics haven’t changed.
Council experience: Candidate 2016.
Describe yourself in three words: Smart, compassionate and bold.
After an unsuccessful campaign in 2016, Scout Barbour-Evans is back. Still the youngest candidate, the 24-year-old student wants to ensure Dunedin is a city which looks after its younger and most vulnerable residents. Improving the quality of rental housing and introducing a rental warrant of fitness are two of their top priorities. They also like the direction the city is heading with the development of cycle-ways and improvements to public transport.
Why should you be mayor?
Dunedin needs leadership that has a stake in the future we are heading towards. As a young person I would be making decisions not just for the present day but also for what we need 20 or 30 years down the track.
What are your top priorities?
Community resilience. How can we bring communities together so everyone knows their neighbours? So if there is any sort of event, people can rely on each other and their community for assistance. I'm also focusing on housing quality. Most of our rental stock is not even built to an Auckland standard which is pretty shocking. Student issues like climate change, housing quality and quality of life are also important. Making sure Dunedin is a place where students want to - and have the opportunity to - continue living after they graduate.
A housing task force has already been set up and the council is considering changes to the 2GP so more land can be freed up for development; what else would you do?
I think we could learn from the mistakes made by councils and central government in other cities where new green-field sites were developed really far from everything. We need to be looking at existing sites and how we can densify housing to make sure people aren't isolated, particularly low income people in far out suburbs. Making sure the entire city is accessible for everyone while not compromising on the quality of housing. We have an impending housing crisis and something needs to be done.
What makes you qualified for the job?
My background is in support work, which comes with a whole host of skills in listening to people and hearing what people need and then acting on that. Through a social justice framework, I will be making sure everybody is heard and everyone is able to access the council and have an input.
What is the city doing well and what can be done better?
I have been really happy with things like the cycleway development, though I do think it could have been done a bit better. With the cycleway and the bus hub we are moving towards becoming a 21st century city. The minimum standards for housing are almost the same as they are in Auckland - which is sub-tropical - and if the council were to look at this issue it could be much more specific and targeted than just being a nationwide issue. Dunedin does need to look at how we can, within the bylaw system, have a rental warrant of fitness programme.
You're no longer a member of the Green Party, and on social media you have been vocal about your concerns with aspects of the party; have your political views changed?
I left the party for a myriad of reasons, none of which were ideological. I left for structural reasons and not to run this campaign. There were issues which led to me leaving which I don't think I should go into in the newspaper.
