Lync Aronson for Dunedin | A Fully Funded City Council

Lync Aronson, a community leader in Dunedin.

My Commitment to Dunedin's Future

"My name is Lync Aronson. I’m 29 years old. A decade ago, I moved here from Auckland for university, and I fell in love with this city. I chose to build my life here with my partner of 9 years."

Now, as I look towards the next 30 years, I'm asking a serious question: What kind of city are we building for my generation and my future family? Can a young family afford to live here? Can people afford to retire here on a fixed income? What more can we do to serve the community groups who have built our city's strong social fabric?

My background isn’t in a corporate boardroom, which can be a top-down dictatorship. It’s in community governance and public service, working at the hospital and ACC, talking to people every day who are struggling. It’s about listening and building coalitions, not just showing up for ribbon-cuttings. That's the collaborative, real-world leadership I will bring to get our city on track.

Proven Leadership. Real Results.

A plan is nothing without the leadership to deliver it. I don't just talk about change, I get things done.

Otago Daily Times article: New home for Community House

Saved Dunedin's Social Services Hub

As Deputy Chair, when Dunedin Community House faced a $2.5 million repair crisis, I helped lead the plan that successfully relocated 23 vital non-profits, saving our city's central social services hub from collapse.

Lync Aronson advocating at a national level.

A National Voice for Change

As President of Brain Injury NZ, I united 13 regions and led a successful national campaign to secure increased ACC funding for families across New Zealand. I fought for you in Wellington and won.

A Credible Plan for a Thriving Future

To build the vibrant future Dunedin deserves, we first need a sound financial foundation. The current path of rising rates and debt is a dead end. Here is the credible, fully-costed plan to get our city back on track.

1. A New Income Stream to Lower Rates

To break the cycle of rate hikes, we need a new income stream that doesn't come from your pocket. My plan creates a public endowment fund (a ‘KiwiSaver for the city’) by selling a 40% minority stake in Aurora Energy.

The capital is locked away, and the annual earnings, projected to be $10 million a year, will be used to permanently lower your rates. This isn't a theory; it's a proven model. We will also offer these shares to Dunedin residents first to ensure high levels of local ownership.

2. Cut Waste & Improve Efficiency

We will find real savings without cutting core services. My plan has a two-pronged approach:

Immediate Belt-Tightening: We will find +$6m per year from basic financial discipline like hiring pauses and cheaper consulting.
Long-Term Automation: We will invest $20m over three years in proven technology to deliver +$5m to $8m per year in savings from our $246m spend on staff and suppliers. This means automating back-office tasks and using smart sensors to make services like water and consenting more efficient.

3. Smart Community Investment

Lower rates does not mean cutting support for our community. With a sound long-term financial plan in place, we can afford to make the smartest investments for our city.

My commitment is to use a portion of the new income from our investment fund to double the $6.6 million in council funding for community groups. Every dollar invested in these grassroots organisations returns massive social value. This is the most fiscally responsible social investment we can make.

Proof It Can Be Done

This isn't just a theory. Just this year, Whanganui District Council delivered a rates rise of just 2.2%. Their mayor said it's because they started a long-term plan to drive down costs, improve efficiency, and find non-rates revenue, which is exactly what my plan does for Dunedin. It proves that with real leadership and a smart financial strategy, we can break the cycle of endless rate hikes.

Read the Whanganui Story →

Be a Part of the Change

This campaign isn't about one person; it's about all of us building a better Dunedin. To win, we need your help. Every contribution makes a huge difference.

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Lync Aronson

For Mayor & Council.