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Cr Chanel Gardner
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Cr Chanel Gardner
Councillor - Dunedin Constituency
| Portfolio: | Finance |
| Email: | Chanel.Gardner@orc.govt.nz |
| Tel: | 021 389 953 |
Otago Regional Council’s first Pasifika councillor likes to test perceived limitations, especially her own. Once a year, when the madness comes upon her, she’s into adventure racing: gritting her teeth through the running part because she loves the biking. It’s a humbling sport, her first team effort an example of pride going before a fall: “The night before, brimming with overconfidence, we said, ‘Who would be so stupid they’d get lost …’ and had to be rescued after going wildly off course.”
Running has taught her to push through the hard things, and her legal practice — predominantly in civil litigation, fraught with family financials — means she’s often found herself in a room with emotions running high, requiring diplomacy, smoothing and generating understanding.
Chanel brings a social justice aspect to the role, with an emphasis on responsible spending and resilience building that balances the needs of all.
Years of experience as an advocate for the seafood industry makes the food chain an obvious metaphor.
“If you catch all the fish, you don’t have a business. Seafood is a high-value export, but it’s also food. We need to — and do — champion Otago businesses, but we should also have food security for all of our communities. People are working hard, doing their best — how can we get them humming?”
The Enviroschools kaupapa resonates, but Chanel would like to see a far bigger approach, which is why she was recently part of a biosphere delegation to China. There are 750 biospheres — internationally designated areas of high biological and cultural diversity — globally.
“Otago could be a UNESCO biosphere: we’re unique, with our indigenous culture, our wildlife.”
“I didn’t expect to get this job, but the timing is right. It’s my turn to have meaningful impact, I’m hungry to help the community, passionate about the primary sector.”
Chanel’s vision for ORC is as a beacon for the region, promoting and sharing the best tech, tools, and innovation.
“We need to pave the way for our tamariki, take a generational look at resource management, science-based solutions, positive climate action — the community expects more from us, and while I am very focused on core business, sticking to basics, we need to deliver fresh collaborations, share new ideas with the world and within New Zealand / Aotearoa.”
Her heart place is a point in the future: “In 2028 there will be a total solar eclipse, and the best place in the world to see it will be the Otago Peninsula. I want to showcase our region — for its art, music, business and biodiversity to be a global event.”
