Lee Vandervis
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Lee Vandervis | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1957 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Occupation | Businessman/Politician |
Lee Vandervis (born 1957) is a local-body politician who was elected to the Dunedin City Council in the 2004 local elections. Vandervis has run for mayor in 2004, 2007, and 2010 coming in second place in 2007.
Background
Vandervis was born in Balclutha in 1957. He is the son of Dutch immigrant parents, has a BA in Philosophy from the University of Otago, and has worked as a music technician for many years. In the mid 1970s he went to the United Kingdon and worked for Midas Audio until 1981 when he returned to Dunedin snd set up Vandervision Lighting Audio and Video in the early 1980s.[1] Vandervis was sound engineer on a City Folk Records LP titled Simple Gifts in February 1983.[2] He was also directly involved in restoring heritage buildings including the Dundas St Church and his former residence at 401 Moray Place in Dunedin.
Politics
In 1984 Vandervis had a brief foray into politics standing for Bob Jones' New Zealand Party in the Dunedin North electorate. He polled in third place.[3]
In 2004 he successfully stood for the Dunedin City as a Council councillor and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor coming third with 9.1% of the vote.[4] In the 2007 election he stood on a platform opposing then proposed replacement stadium for Carisbrook. He was defested.[5] During the 2010 election campaign one of his volunteers installing an election hoarding pierced an 11kv cable near Mosgiel causing a power outage to 747 consumers. The site had been designated for hoarding by the Council, but no mention of the presence of the cable had been made. Fortunately the the volunteer was unharmed.[6] Vandervis was again third in the Mayoral race with 15.2% of the vote. He was re-elected as a Councillor.
Vandervis is currently the Chair of the Dunedin City Council Heritage Fund and the Heritage Buildings Re-use Committee. He is also on the Board of the Otago Settlers Museum.[7]
Vandervis states that he is focused on challenging misrepresented projects and bureaucratic waste.[8][9] At times he is controvesial. His recent criticism of Community Board's being a waste of time raised their ire.[10] He has also had clashes over bus shelters,[11] criticised Council's financial management - especially the $480,000 bailout of the Otago Rugby Union,[12][13] and faced criticism over his suggestion that Christchurch's earthquake rebuild could be shifted to Dunedin.[14]
Vandervis has suggested that Christchurch's proposed stadium would be a waster of money,[15] His comments were based on his experience with Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.[16]
He supported the rebuild of the Christchurch Cathedral, which was partially destroyed in the earthquakes.[17]
References
- ^ Councillor Lee Vandervis on the Dunedin City Council website
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Various-Simple-Gifts/release/3107962
- ^ New Zealand Official Yearbook - 1984, Department of Statistics, Wellington, page 1024, ISSN 0078 0170
- ^ http://www.demochoice.org/dcresults.php?poll=real.nzdunedinh04
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/28028/Dunedin-stadium-opponent-beaten
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/126686/advertising-sign-sparks-power-cut Chris Morris, Otago Daily Times, 16 Sep 2010
- ^ http://www.otago.settlers.museum/about/osm-board
- ^ http://leevandervis.co.nz/pages/about
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/123918/mayoral-profile-lee-vandervis, Chris Morris, Otago Daily Times, 1 Sep 2010
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/211207/vandervis-be-invited-meeting Ellie Constantine, Otago Daily Times, 30 May 2012
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/200202/vandervis-walks-out-hearing Chris Morris, Otago Daily Times, 6 Mar 2012
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/199478/unpaid-rent-situation-angers-councillor Chris Morris, Otago Daily Times, 29 Feb 2012
- ^ http://www.3news.co.nz/Ratepayers-upset-over-Otago-union-bailout/tabid/423/articleID/246738/Default.aspx
- ^ http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/193966/vandervis-comments-rankle-christchurch, Chris Morris, Otago Daily Times, 11 Jan 2012
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7360249/Dunedin-councillor-warns-against-stadium Caroline King, The Press, Christchurch, 27 July 2012
- ^ http://www.3news.co.nz/Forsyth-Barr-stadium-reports-19-million-loss/tabid/421/articleID/253645/Default.aspx TV3, New Zealand, 20 May 2012
- ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/7451076/Broken-heart-better-than-no-heart Lee Vandervis opinion piece, The Press, Christchurch, 10 August 2012
External links
- Local Elections 2010 - Lee Vandervis
- Otago Daily Times - Poll shows two horse race
- Otago Daily Times - Cull leads latest poll
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