Rohan O'Neill-Stevens

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Rohan O'Neill-Stevens
20th Deputy Mayor of Nelson
Assumed office
2022
Preceded byJudene Edgar
Nelson City Councillor
Assumed office
2019
Personal details
Born
Rohan Tomas Sean O'Neill-Stevens

2000 (age 23–24)
Nelson, New Zealand

Rohan Tomas Sean O'Neill-Stevens is a New Zealand politician and deputy mayor of Nelson City Council. In 2019, he was elected as the youngest councillor of Nelson City Council.[1] He is a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand,[2] and previously served as the Co-convenor of the party's youth wing.

Early life and education

O'Neill-Stevens is of Māori and European descent, and is of Ngāti Apakura.[3] In 2017, while studying at Nelson College he was awarded a scholarship to attend UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany.[4]

Political career

Nelson City Council

In the 2019 New Zealand local elections, O'Neill-Stevens was elected to the Nelson City Council.[5] O'Neill-Stevens campaigned on issues such as public transport improvements, youth engagement, and housing.[6]

In the 2022 New Zealand local elections, O'Neill-Stevens ran for re-election and for mayor of Nelson,[7] finishing in third place for the mayoralty and was re-elected as a councillor.[8] Following the election, O'Neill-Stevens was appointed deputy mayor by Mayor Nick Smith to 'provide balance'.[9]

Political positions

Housing

O'Neill-Stevens supports housing density, calling "subpar and unaffordable housing" a "stain" on New Zealand.[10] He voted against Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council's Future Development Strategy for having "lowballed intensification" and failing to change the way council's approach urban planning.[11]

Transport

O'Neill-Stevens has advocated for public and active transport improvements, and in 2021, moved a motion for Nelson City Council to support free public transport for students, under-25s and community services card holders which was narrowly defeated.[12]

Gambling

O'Neill-Stevens has spoken out against the harm of gaming machines, and in 2021, he moved a motion to adopt a sinking lid policy to reduce the number of machines in Nelson.[13]

References

  1. ^ "'A women-quake' for Nelson council with six female councillors". Stuff.co.nz. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. ^ "The Queen, floods, toxic culture and dancefloor dicks – debate day in Nelson". The Spinoff. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  3. ^ 4 mins to read (19 August 2022). "Young tāne Māori puts his hand up to lead storm-battered Nelson Council". NZ Herald. Retrieved 4 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Nelson College student aims to gain a world of knowledge from scholarship". Stuff.co.nz. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Nelson City Council 2019 Triennial Elections Final Result and Expense Returns – Nelson City Council". Nelson.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. ^ "A Nelson teen is running for council after watching along for two years". Stuff.co.nz. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Youngest councillor announces mayoral bid with call for dynamic leadership". Stuff.co.nz. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Nelson City Council 2022 Triennial Elections Final" (PDF). nelson.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Nelson's new deputy mayor chosen to 'provide balance'". Stuff.co.nz. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Close to home: Intensification action plan approved by Nelson Council". Stuff.co.nz. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Development strategy 'lacks vision' in climate crisis, councillors say". Stuff.co.nz. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Council turns down free fares campaign". Nelson App. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  13. ^ "15 September 2021 by Top South Media". Issuu. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
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