I live in the heart of Havelock North, recently married, to the engineer,  after being widowed for nearly five years. I have three grown children and three young grandchildren. I teach in Napier at William Colenso College, going part time last year to be able to fit in council meetings.

In my spare time, I walk two Labrador dogs, Honey and Ludo, attend Andy’s gym in Havelock North and cycle in the warmer months.

The council subcommittees I am involved in include Safer Hastings Advisory committee, Landmarks, Hastings City Art Gallery advisory group, Hastings Youth Council, Youth Transition Service advisory group, as well as the big committees all Councillors attend.

My daughter Kate and son-in-law Adam, along with my three grandchildren live in Havelock North and having a young family close by enables me to see Havelock North through different eyes. I see a lack of age appropriate play areas, footpaths that are difficult to push a pushchair along, speeding traffic past schools and the need for safe crossings outside schools. Many of these concerns also affect the older members of our community and residents who are disabled, whether it is poor eyesight or lack of mobility.

Havelock North is my chosen place to live, after having lived in a large number of other places, including large cities and small towns. I have  a passionate commitment to anything involving Havelock North.

To try and keep up with technology and give my two sons, living in Melbourne, a chance to know what I am doing, I twitter. (hdcmandy)