Sir Mark Dunajtschik, the philanthropist who donated $53 million to build the Wellington children’s hospital, has publicly endorsed Ray Chung for the Wellington mayoralty and thrown his public support behind him.
Ray Chung is the best person for the job of Wellington Mayor, Sir Mark says.
“Wellington has experienced serious decline for a number of years; meanwhile, the cost of rates and debt has increased dramatically.
“The city needs a mayor who has vision and the ability and proven experience to get costs under control and focus on the basics, not pie in the sky projects.”
Sir Mark is a great Wellingtonian. He came from humble beginnings in Europe, born in Yugoslavia in 1935. Aged nine, his family was imprisoned by Tito, before they escaped three years later to Hungary and then Germany, after World War Two.
He trained as a toolmaker and first came to New Zealand in 1955, before deciding to settle in Wellington in 1958. He set up a grinding business making and servicing tungsten carbide tools.
At the age of 55, he got involved in property and is now one of Wellington’s biggest property developers.
Sir Mark was vocal against the flawed Reading Cinema deal that current mayor Tory Whanau and the council’s previous Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow proposed for the council to purchase the Courtenay Place / Wakefield Street site.
Instead, Sir Mark proposed a plan that would ultimately have not cost the city anything, but Whanau and McKerrow thought they were smarter and knew better. They dismissed the deal and treated Sir Mark with contempt. Most of the city councillors supported Whanau and McKerrow – but not Ray Chung!
When asked by Wellington NewstalkZB’s host Nick Mills whether the council was considering Sir Mark’s proposal for Reading Cinema at the time, mayor Tory Whanau told Mills that the council was “in talks” with Sir Mark.
Frustrated at the rubbish coming from the mayor, Sir Mark called her out! He calls into Nick Mills’ show and said contrary to the statements from Tory Whanau, the council isn’t talking to him. In fact, he told Mills, he’s heard nothing from the council. They hadn’t even acknowledged his proposal or his email. Nothing. Nada. Niente.
Ray Chung told the Herald: “I really like Sir Mark, I’ve known him a long time. He’s such a great person, I almost feel whenever I’m in his office that I’m with royalty.” Respect!
VOTE RAY CHUNG FOR MAYOR
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