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Brings leadership experience as ORC Chair and joint Public and Active Transport Governance Sub-Group Chair, emphasizing collaboration between councils for integrated solutions. Her vision includes seamless linking of all transport modes, better integration of school bus services, support for the Coastal Communities Cycle Connection and Taieri Plains floodbank trail, with focus on achieving record bus patronage growth through government partnership and NZTA funding.
Kia ora Spokes team,
Thank you for the chance to respond.
Cycling is a big part of life for my family — we all enjoy getting out on our bikes. That personal connection makes me keen to see cycling and other forms of active transport safe, easy, and enjoyable for everyone in our community. In my role as Chair of the Otago Regional Council, and as Chair of the joint Public and Active Transport (PAT) Governance Sub-Group that ORC set up this triennium with DCC and QLDC, I’ve been working to strengthen collaboration so we can deliver integrated transport solutions across Ōtepoti and Otago.
I also sit on the inner city safety governance group, working with DCC, and Police. This has established a grouping with business leadership, social services, government agencies, and community leaders to foster a safe environment for people to gather, move, and connect across all transport modes.
My vision is a Dunedin where active transport is an everyday, safe, and convenient choice for people of all ages. Walking, biking, scootering (etc), and buses should all link together seamlessly, supported by thoughtful planning, safety measures, and infrastructure.
ORC does not directly build footpaths, kerbs, or bike lanes — these are primarily a DCC responsibility — but through the Joint PAT Group, we are working more closely than ever to align city infrastructure with regional transport planning. This joined-up approach is key to increasing numbers of people cycling, walking, and using public transport.
Specific actions I am advocating include:
- Better integration of school bus services (Ministry of Education-led) with public transport to make it simpler, safer, and more convenient for families.
- Support for the Coastal Communities Cycle Connection and exploration of a trail across the Taieri Plains floodbanks, linking cycling with flood resilience.
- Improved interchanges and “last mile” connections — secure bike parking, safe crossings, shelters — to make public transport and active modes easier to combine.
- Lobbying and relationship-building with government and partners to secure funding and policies for integration, making it easier and more motivating for people to choose buses or active transport.
- Continuing to grow bus patronage — ORC has achieved record numbers in both Dunedin and Queenstown, but this needs to lift significantly to achieve a sustainable, safe, and well-functioning transport future.
Government support and NZTA partnership funding are essential to achieving this vision, helping children get to school, people reach essential services, and the city reduce congestion, emissions, and health costs.
While city councils are responsible for building walking and cycling infrastructure, ORC has consistently played an active role as catalyst, funder, and collaborator to get projects off the ground. ORC helped kickstart the Harbour Cycleway at Ravensbourne as a Millennium project, and today continues to partner on new pathways like the Coastal Connections route and the proposed Taieri Plains floodbank trail.
My priorities for the next term are:
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Encourage further work following the Coastal Communities Cycle Connection (Waitati–Mopanui, due 2025) section delivery and advance design/consenting for Section 1 (Waikouaiti–Karitāne).
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Explore the Taieri Plains Floodbank Trail, providing multi-use pathways that integrate flood protection with active transport.
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Continue enhancements to Te Aka Ōtākou (Harbour Cycleway) and other existing trails especially connections to other areas of the city and seeing city infrastructure improvements to foster this.
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Ensure integration with public transport so people find it simple, safe, convenient, and motivating to get active.
ORC’s role is often not to pour concrete or lay asphalt for infrastructure, but to be an active partner and advocate — helping link walking, cycling, and bus networks, providing technical expertise, strategic funding, and support to unlock partnership funding.
My focus is on safe, people-friendly, and accessible public spaces.
ORC’s role is to advocate and support integration of transport networks into urban design, helping more people choose active or public transport. We also encourage sustainable environment focussed solutions and well planned infrastructure - both in new developments and retrofitted into existing.
Key priorities for me personally include:
- Traffic-calmed, quiet streets — more low-speed neighbourhoods where people feel confident walking, cycling, and gathering.
- Accessibility city-wide — universal good proactive design for pedestrians and cyclists in all upgrades and connections with public transport.
- George Street — continue its transformation into a vibrant pedestrian space for meeting, gathering, celebrating, and supporting local businesses.
- The Octagon — evolve as a hub for arts, events, recreation and outdoor activities while improving connectivity and accessibility. Make it attractive abd a conduit to explore wider Dunedin.
- Inner city safety — build on the work of the governance group to strengthen multi-organisational collaboration for a safer environment.
These projects are high-value and high-impact. Strategic ORC support — design assistance, funding partnerships, advocacy — can achieve significant results without always requiring large ratepayer-funded investments. Progress depends on collaborative, community-focused councillors who can deliver practical and visionary outcomes.
Ka Mihi,
Gretchen Robertson
Current Chair, Otago Regional Council
ORC Dunedin Constituency Candidate