Who is Ria Bond?
Hi, I'm Ria
The most important masters degree I have achieved in my life is being a mother to Johnathan and Maddison. My beautiful children are my moral compass, my community is where I gain my strength, energy, passions, and leadership from.
I entered the sport of marching from an early age to the masters grade, representing Southland, Canterbury, and Palmerston North with championship teams across New Zealand. I also coached and believed the dual role of coach was to inspire girls that they do not have to accept second best, that they can be anything they wanted to be in life. I played rugby for Southland Girls High School First XV, Softball for Panthers and Netball for Canterbury Intermediate Girls Representative Team.
I am a proud hairdresser by trade and worked for over 25 years within the industry, from starting at high school. Gaining an apprenticeship then achieving one of my dreams in life, opening my own business. Hairdressing provided me with life skills that money could just not buy.
My passion for achieving more in my life progressed to serving in key national Industry roles, The New Zealand association of Registered Hairdressers President, Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation Director, The New Zealand National Qualifications Targeted Review of Qualification Governance and Review Panel, Industry Awards Business Judge, Member of the SIT Hairdressing Advisory Committee. In my community I served on the St Johns Girls School Board of Proprietors, Director of Invercargill Rotary Club, and a former club President. I am a business mentor for Business mentor New Zealand.
I am no stranger to teamwork, leadership, or challenging environments. I work hard so I can deliver and achieve results.
MISSION STATEMENT
Future Focused
A Mayor must have a strategic vision to be more than just core council services.
A focused leader means a focused team. A good team leader always has the goal in mind and sets clear expectations for everyone. A great leader is able to admit their mistakes and learn from them. They are open to feedback from their staff, consider criticism carefully and make changes when necessary.
Leadership is crucial to drive policies that contribute to a strategic vision. In a complex and challenging policy environment, characterised by low levels of trust in local government, leadership is an essential attribute of effective local government.
Leadership is the ability to unify, provide resources, promote cooperation, and identify emerging issues.
A THRIVING CAREER
I am a former List Member of Parliament based in Invercargill and actively advocated for constituents of the Invercargill public throughout my role prior to and during Parliament.
Due to my experience in public, community, education, volunteer directorships, key governance skills and strong business background I became a member to the commerce select committee, which looks at business related to business development, tourism, Crown minerals, commerce, consumer protection and trading standards, research, science, innovation, intellectual property, broadcasting, communications, and information technology.
I also became an associate member on the health select committee which looks at all business related to all aspects of Health.
As a former business owner, I understand the unique struggles our local businesses have had in Invercargill and Bluff as we move through the effects of Covid-19. We can recover from the pandemic economic impact and central government can play an integral part of our city’s recovery.
Leadership is crucial to drive policies that contribute to a strategic vision for our city. Our mayor needs to be bold, have the skills to unify their team, provide resources, promote cooperation, and identify emerging issues. During this complex and challenging environment, characterised by low levels of trust in local government, leadership is an essential attribute of effective local government.
Invercargill needs a mayor with a strong vision, strength, work in partnership with councillors, to set the council’s agenda to get results for ratepayers because our council needs to be accountable to the ratepayers. The mayor needs to know how to being back Wellington funds to Invercargill. I know what it means to work inside an environment designed to hold government and ministers of the day to account for their finances and spending. It is essential that Invercargill has a strong voice that not only represents ratepayers but also our business community. My proven experience of working inside government is indisputable and provides me with multilevel essential experience, skills, and abilities to position me to be best mayor for Invercargill and Bluff.
Our elected members have an enormous influence on how things run in our city, what projects are given priority, and where investments go.
The mayor is responsible for policies, budgets, promoting our community, to represent its people, to exemplify strong, reliable leadership. Councillors are responsible for understanding and implementing principles of good governance in decision making, not get involved in operational matters, to maintain respect.
It is time to move our city forward. Invercargill and Bluff deserve a mayor who will put Invercargill First. Who understands Leadership should always be about people. I have the skill set, experience, decisive leadership to lead our city. Everything we do as leaders should always be about the people who we represent. I have lived for leadership, people, and values. VoteBond4Mayor.
Our elected members have an enormous influence on how things run in our city, what projects are prioritised, and where investments go.
Councillors are responsible for understanding and implementing principles of good governance in decision making, not get involved in operational matters.
I am concerned about the lack of transparency, skills, the inability of council members to be prepared for higher levels of governance and work efficiently. Not only has there been a leadership problem, but there have also been a shift in dynamics blurring the role of the councils executive teams to fill the void of elected members, this needs to stop. There has to be accountability back for our ratepayers, our businesses, our community. VoteBond4Council
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