Press release announcing GW candidacy

For immediate release

WELLINGTON DOCTOR AIMING

FOR SEAT ON REGIONAL COUNCIL

A leading Wellington surgeon with a strong environmental agenda is to be a candidate for the Regional Council in the October elections.

Dr Russell Tregonning, a local orthopaedic surgeon for 37 years and past president of the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association, says he will campaign to make the Wellington city and its environment more healthy for all its citizens including improvement in water quality with exclusion of stock from all waterways, swimmable rivers and clean beaches.

“I will fight for fast, efficient public transport with low or no emissions, more pedestrianised streets and safe cycling routes, and an increase in city parks and green open spaces.” Among his priorities, he says, is for the Regional Council to put light rail back on its transport agenda, and to retain trolley buses meantime. “Diesel buses are dinosaurs. Their emissions pollute the environment, and also our lungs.”

He wants Wellington to become a world leader in combating climate change. He says the Regional Council should base all its decisions on moving forward to a low carbon future. “Such policies would be good for people, good for business, and good for future generations.”

Dr Tregonning says the Wellington region – like the whole country – is facing unprecedented threats to its fragile environment, brought on by climate change and backward-looking policies. “Our model has tended to be America, instead of the enlightened and progressive European countries that have introduced a raft of measures to reduce carbon emissions, enhance the liveability of their cities, and improve the health of their citizens.”

Russell Tregonning has an impressive record in local and national affairs playing a leading role in many environmental and public health bodies. Locally, in Waterfront Watch, the Great Harbour Way Trust, and Chaffers Park – Make It Happen which was responsible for the creation of Waitangi Park. He is a founding member of FIT – Fair Intelligent Transport Wellington and Wellington Ciclovia, He is a guide at Zealandia, a member of Cycle Aware Wellington, the Wellington FlyFishing Club, and he was a medical officer for the Wellington Rugby Union. At national level he is an executive member of OraTaiao: the New Zealand Climate and Health Council, a member of Fish and Game NZ, Forest and Bird, and Wise Response, a broad coalition of New Zealanders asking the government to assess imminent risks to New Zealand.

CONTACT RUSSELL TREGONNING:

5 Anne St., Wadestown, Wellington.  Phone 027 444 6805

rutrego@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/russell.tregonning.5

http://rjattrue.blogspot.co.nz/