Stephan Rattray for Kaikoura Mayor

New face's fresh point of difference: By LJANA SLIGO - Kaikoura Star 18.08.10

Although Stephan Rattray has been in Kaikoura only five years, he says he is dedicated to the community and has a passion to do his very best for the town. So he has decided to stand for mayor of the Kaikoura District in the coming local body elections.

Real estate agent Winston Gray has been nominated for the mayoralty and Mayor Kevin Heays has said he would also stand again.

Stephan says he has been encouraged by people he deals with every day.

"The position needs some serious energy and I want to make a difference.

"What I bring is a point of difference from people who have grown up here. I'm fresh, new and enthusiastic," he said.

In the five years since he has been in Kaikoura, Stephan has involved himself in community groups and various organisations.

He is chairman of the enVision business association, a member of the Kaikoura District Council tourism and economic development committee and a member of the aquatic centre's Community Facilities Charitable Trust.

He is involved with the Kaikoura Primary School board of trustees as chairman and is parent representative on the Kaikoura High School board of trustees. Along with these commitments he is also the under-nine rugby coach and is captain of the swimming club.

Stephan said he was involved because he enjoyed it and he wanted his kids to have as many opportunities available to them as possible.

The aquatic centre is a development that Stephan says he is very excited about and has the potential to be huge for Kaikoura.

"Let's get on with it and get it happening," he said.

"It'll be a key project and with me you get two for the price of one – a project manager and a mayor," he said, laughing.

Stephan says he sees the aquatic centre and other developments in the town as important in preventing the recession Kaikoura experiences every winter, but says they shouldn't be a burden to ratepayers.

Operating a successful accommodation business – the Fairways Motels and Apartments – in town and his time as the project manager for Ocean Ridge since 2003 had given him strong business and project management skills, he said.

Before moving to Kaikoura, Stephan spent 22 years working as a land surveyor, mainly in Christchurch, and believes this has given him useful skills that can be applied to the mayoralty.

"I know the council well, I have worked with them for quite some time," he said.

Stephan describes one of his strengths as his ability to be a leader.

"In order to lead you have to serve," he says.

"Keeping people in the loop is really important and making sure others are coming with you is the key."

 

To find out more vist:  www.stephanrattray.co.nz