Who is Richard Crawford
Father of 4 children and grandfather to 3 grandchildren. Builder for 39 years owned my own business for 29 years. Worked with youth at risk and community initiatives for 23 years in Wellington before moving to Te Puke in 2006. I have served on various boards and community groups and currently on 3 boards. A volunteer fireman for last 13 years. Current Chairperson Te Puke Community Board , Chairperson of The Daily Charitable Trust, on the steering group for CoLab and member of the Te Ara Kahikatea Pathway
I bring to the table a wealth of knowledge in governance, a practical and pragmatic thought process but also the need to gather information for the decision making. A huge driver for this process is to ensure the greatest possible collaboration and collective approach is made.
No matter how busy I get in my business as a builder I always factor in time to give back to the community. This was engrained in me from childhood with my family being active with youth development and the community of Arataki, Mount Maunganui.
What will I do?
- Positive leadership that leads us into the future
- Strong advocacy to give a voice for the community to the local council
- Encourage collaboration - a community working together for the common good
- To see all age gender and cultures connected and thriving
- Make Te Puke the Best town in NZ
Community Board Chair
My experience as the Te Puke Community Board chairperson has developed my leadership skills, It is so important to involve everyone, build a team and be proud of that team, There are so many skills sitting at the table. We cannot all be good at everything but collectively we can be great. I am proud of what our board achieved over the last 3 years but there is more to be done, I feel now is the time to step up in my elected role and stand for a councillor of our ward.
One of my roles as chair of the community board is to chair the Dr leonard Randell Scholarship Fund and help select one student from Te Puke High School to receive the $1500.00 scholarship
Another role is to lead the Community Emergency Response Team in which we have had to response twice since been elected . Covid 19 and the Tonga volcanic eruption which threatened our coastal region sparking a Tsunami warning
The community Board is a great place to help advocate to council on community matters and help achieve local initiatives
Charitable Trust Co-founder
Eight years ago a few friends and myself started the Daily Cafe . We wanted to create a place where people could connect and thrive . The Daily Charitable Trust was formed as a social enterprise not for profit business. We are big believers in collaborating with others and in the last 6 years have worked hard to develop or support initiatives that would benefit our community . Since then we have started The Daily help , The Daily Lift and The Daily Kitchen where we supply lunches in schools to 10 schools in our district . We also supply emergency meals and community meals for those in need
I am the current board chair for our organisation and founding trustee
Builder and Business owner
I am a builder by trade and have been running my own business since 1993 . Over the years I have employed multiple apprentices and builders and belonged to the certified builders association where I served on the Wellington Region board . I have years of experience in running a successful business and being a leader within our industry .
I have lead many short term trips overseas doing volunteer work which I have found very satisfying and rewarding . You learn alot by going into other cultures and serving them and makes you appreciate what you have
During the earthquakes in Christchurch in 2010 -2012 I was an assessor for the EarthQuake Commision and spent 18 months assessing the damage. My self experiencing all those major earthquakes gave me some important insights into what happens to a community during a major long term disaster event.
Volunteer firefighter
I have been a volunteer fighter for the last 13 years in the Te Puke Volunteer brigade and recently stepped down . I found it a privilege to serve my community in this way and to be available when our community has gone through some of its worst moments but also be part of lots of brigade social engagements like christmas parades , food drives , attend ANZAC day parades and many fund raising activities like South To Sky fund raising event where 8 fire fighters including myself ran a relay run all the way from the Bluff to Auckland and then climb the Sky Tower in full fire fighting gear all to raise money for the Leukemia Blood Cancer Foundation . We raised $54,000.00
Community involvements
CoLab - is a collaborative collective facilitating community development within Te Puke area . I am part of steering group and sitting on the housing and youth sub committees.
Chairperson for the Dr Leonard Randell Memorial Scholarship Trust - helping one student per year with a $1500 scholarship towards their studies
I am part of Te Ara Kahikatea pathway society ( pass chairperson) founding member. proudly been part of helping establishing a local pathway circuit in Te Puke with plans to connect up other pathways all the way out to Maketu / Paengaroa. Cycleways and walkways are an important part of development to safely get around our district
Other activities involved with
Skate park - Lead the group that established the skate park on Jubilee Park
Youth Hub - Helped establish the Youth Hub
Having worked with the most vulnerable all over the world on building projects, in prisons and on the ground youth support I have seen all that humanity has to offer and know that changes can make a difference in all communities.
My philosophy is and always that I will endeavour to leave the community in a greater position than when I arrived.
