Photo: Phillipa Karn

He wants Waiheke to have control of assets such as the library, more carpark spaces at Matiatia, and the fast introduction of high-speed broadband, which he believes would enable more people to work from home to reduce their carbon footprints.

He says he would be committed to working with fellow board members to find ways of ensuring the island controls its own destiny.

And sustainable development is the way forward for both island businesses and residents, he thinks. Mr Hooper says his greatest strength is his independence, with his greatest weakness “a hatred of seeing money wasted”.

Although he has had no experience of committee work, Mr Hooper says he has other skills he could bring to the board.

In particular, he points to self-directed achievements that include inventing a spray-free solution to help kill weeds, three years as a Whakanewha Park volunteer, and helping to develop the Woolshed Stage and The Rocks as entertainment venues.

He regards the Waiheke Community Board award he received for his weed control work as an example of his success in reaching goals.

His vision for the island in ten years’ time is for a place where more powerlines and fibre optic cables have been installed underground, less weeds and animal pests, and more kowhai trees and native birds

It is no surprise then that he supports the idea of the island becoming a UNESCO biosphere reserve – although he warns it must not impose restrictions on future development potential or cost residents vast sums of money.

Meanwhile, he is aware the board will be facing a range of other issues and lists his own top three as more of a say over assets such as Artworks and the library (which he wants to see re-designed), the biosphere initiative, and the proposed national Cycleway.

Mr Hooper thinks both the proposed biosphere and cycleway project would attract more eco-tourists. He is also keen for the new board to look at more sustainable sources of power and transport.

If elected, he plans to work fulltime as a board member fitting in some part-time work where he can.

One of the first jobs will be to draw up a local plan but Mr Hooper does not believe it is possible to consider what might be in it without knowing what budget the new board will have.

He thinks the most successful or most experienced elected member should be the new chairperson, and sees the board as serving a diverse community “not just the vocal minority”.

“I am not a member of any political party or local pressure group. I have no hidden agendas,” he says.

Waiheke High’s Huia Pocklington and Ella Reilly wanted to know how the board could make things easier for students and whether young people should have a voice on council.

Mr Hooper believes ultra-fast broadband and the use of social networking could enable more home study opportunities and a better chance of interaction with the super city. •