A Year in Review - 2025

And what a year it has been.

Welcome to December, and to the final iteration of this blog for the year. If I thought last year was a handful, this year is even more so.

So much has happened this year, in so many ways that it is hard to summarize it all. But as usual, I will give it my best crack.

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It’s all positives

At the beginning of 2024, I was fresh back from a month overseas. This year, my wife and I tied the knot after 8 and a half years of being together. You never really believe how good it is until it happens.

I also managed to find a permanent position in my field, which has provided much needed job security - albeit at a reduced capacity for advocacy. Despite this, my plate seems fuller than ever.

In April, I was shoulder-tapped to step into the vacant Chairperson position at the St Albans Residents’ Association. I never imagined taking on such community leadership so soon, but it has proven to be an outstanding opportunity. I was formally elected to this position in September, and will hold it for the next year.

I’ve helped our community push back on intrusive consents, slash-and-burn politics, and worked to ensure that progressive voices have been heard in the media and around the tables that make decisions in this city. There’s plenty I haven’t covered on here that has happened thanks to the work of groups I am involved in.

I look forward to continuing this work next year and beyond.

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The Campaign

To that end, I stood for election this year in our Local Government Elections. Through this process, my team, Simon, and I spoke to thousands of people about their concerns from all across the Papanui Ward area.

The difference a professional photoshoot can make.

I’d like to repeat my thanks to the people that supported me. I had folks who came week in and week out to door knock, most either friends or family, and many of whom were first-time campaigners. I could not have run the campaign I did without their support.

And, while I didn’t win one of the two seats, 2,500 people put their faith (and votes) in me. That’s really reassuring for the future.

To call this experience eye-opening would be an understatement.

It’s one of those moments that can genuinely push your understanding of things to a limit. From road renewals to rates, anything was on the table and no two houses were the same. I have a much deeper appreciation for the varied positions of the people around me, and the reasons why that is.

What it has highlighted is that there are dozens of issues that people are looking for advocacy and leadership for, and very little funding being made available to resolve them. That’s a challenge for the next three years, especially with rates caps looking ever more likely, and a Council that will be balancing on a fine line between what they can do, and potential intervention.

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How’s the blog doing?

Thanks for asking!

Last year, this blog received ~1,740 views. Now, that number is ~6,210.

I never imagined that anyone would read this when I started it in late 2024. Now, tracking for 10,000 total views sometime next year seems not only possible, but inevitable.

I am grateful for all of you who have left comments, likes, or emailed me back with your thoughts.

If this were a Spotify Wrapped, the top hits for this year include:

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What’s next?

With stable employment secured (and no lengthy campaign to run), I hope that this publication will continue to grow next year. Somewhat realistically, I’d like to think that this time next year, I’ll have at least 100 followers and 10,000 views.

I’m also due for another trip next year which if all goes to plan, should see me revisit Canada, and hit most of Western Europe (that means lots of trains, and therefore lots of things to write about).

What I want to know is - what do you want to see more of?

Let me know below.

A happy holiday season to all, and here’s to 2026.

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