Rohan O'Neill-Stevens explained

Rohan O'Neill-Stevens
Office1:20th Deputy Mayor of Nelson
Predecessor1:Judene Edgar
Term Start1:2022
Office2:Nelson City Councillor
Termstart2:2019
Birth Place:Nelson, New Zealand
Birth Name:Rohan Tomas Sean O'Neill-Stevens

Rohan Tomas Sean O'Neill-Stevens (born 2000) 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] convened their 2023 general election campaign,[3] 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.[4] In 2017, while studying at Nelson College he was awarded a scholarship to attend UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany.[5]

Political career

Nelson City Council

In the 2019 New Zealand local elections, O'Neill-Stevens was elected to the Nelson City Council.[6] O'Neill-Stevens campaigned on issues such as public transport improvements, youth engagement, and housing.[7]

In the 2022 New Zealand local elections, O'Neill-Stevens ran for re-election and for mayor of Nelson,[8] finishing in third place for the mayoralty and was re-elected as a councillor.[9] Following the election, O'Neill-Stevens was appointed deputy mayor by Mayor Nick Smith to 'provide balance'.[10]

Political positions

Housing

O'Neill-Stevens supports housing density, calling "subpar and unaffordable housing" a "stain" on New Zealand.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14]

Personal life

O'Neill-Stevens identifies as queer.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'A women-quake' for Nelson council with six female councillors . Stuff.co.nz . 12 October 2019 . 4 April 2023.
  2. Web site: The Queen, floods, toxic culture and dancefloor dicks – debate day in Nelson . The Spinoff . 13 September 2022. 4 April 2023.
  3. News: Professionals, true believers and mad men: the teams behind the election campaigns. The Post. 26 May 2023 . 14 July 2024.
  4. Web site: 4 mins to read . Young tāne Māori puts his hand up to lead storm-battered Nelson Council . NZ Herald . 19 August 2022 . 4 April 2023.
  5. Web site: Nelson College student aims to gain a world of knowledge from scholarship . Stuff.co.nz . 4 May 2017 . 4 April 2023.
  6. Web site: Nelson City Council 2019 Triennial Elections Final Result and Expense Returns – Nelson City Council . Nelson.govt.nz . 4 April 2023.
  7. Web site: A Nelson teen is running for council after watching along for two years . Stuff.co.nz . 16 July 2019 . 4 April 2023.
  8. Web site: Youngest councillor announces mayoral bid with call for dynamic leadership . Stuff.co.nz . 3 May 2022 . 4 April 2023.
  9. Web site: Nelson City Council 2022 Triennial Elections Final . nelson.govt.nz . 4 April 2023.
  10. Web site: Nelson's new deputy mayor chosen to 'provide balance' . Stuff.co.nz . 28 October 2022 . 4 April 2023.
  11. Web site: Close to home: Intensification action plan approved by Nelson Council . Stuff.co.nz . 23 September 2020 . 4 April 2023.
  12. Web site: Development strategy 'lacks vision' in climate crisis, councillors say . Stuff.co.nz . 31 July 2022 . 4 April 2023.
  13. Web site: Council turns down free fares campaign . Nelson App . 24 November 2021 . 4 April 2023.
  14. Web site: 15 September 2021 by Top South Media . Issuu . 15 September 2021 . 4 April 2023.
  15. News: What it’s like to be a queer person in local politics. The Spinoff . 7 October 2022. 21 August 2024.