If you want a successful city with leadership that listens, Jules Radich is here to serve you.

Do you want?

• Effective flood mitigation in South Dunedin?

• Continued focus on infrastructure renewal?

• Economic Development for Dunedin?

These are primary topics for Jules Radich as a Councillor in 2025.

In 2022, Dunedin residents voted me Mayor and I delivered as listed below but in 2025, they have chosen Sophie Barker and I intend to work cooperatively with her for the benefit of Dunedin.

Prior to becoming Mayor in 2022 I wrote in my 150 word candidate profile: 

"Dunedin deserves practical plans for roads, transport and parking that cater for everyday needs while lowering emissions. Our 1-Way system must be retained. Infrastructure is essential and must receive greater priority while 3-Waters should remain in local control. South Dunedin must be protected not neglected. Landfill alternatives can save us millions. Debt must be controlled.

As your Mayor, I will develop a Dunedin that is welcoming, vibrant and sustainable."

...and I delivered accordingly:

"Practical plans for roads, transport and parking that cater for everyday needs while lowering emissions"

1. One-Way system saved
2. George St is still drivable
3. Roundabouts have helped traffic flow
4. Parking reductions are rarer, some are reinstated
5. The Taieri Gorge Rail is saved
6. Council emissions are on track for 2030

"Infrastructure is essential"

1. Investment in water infrastructure has doubled
2. Transport Infrastructure investment is steady and more focused on flow
3. Substantial upgrades of water treatment plants are planned

"3-Waters should remain in local control"

1. Dunedin can keep water in-house and go alone thanks to early investment
2. Dunedin and Christchurch will work together on shared services

"South Dunedin Protected not neglected"

1. $30 million on Pipes & Pumps Plan
2. Major upgrade of Green Island wastewater treatment plant to take Caversham tunnel flows
3. South Dunedin Future engagement ongoing. 5 Parks Plan is an easy raw visualisation

"Landfill Alternatives"

1. Recycling Centre at Green Island is under construction
2. 4 bin system is in use and material is well separated
3. Smooth Hill is consented and will save us money over time

"Debt must be controlled"

1. Debt graph flattens over 9-year plan
2. Budget is balanced
3. Rates are higher than hoped but who else will pay for water?

"Welcoming"

1. Dunedin is No 1 in NZ for Quality of Life
2. International flights have been reinstated
3. Serious hotel proposals are being discussed

"Vibrant"

1. Live Music Action Plan
2. Events & Stadium Plan
3. New South Dunedin Community Library
4. New Edgar Centre roof

"Sustainable"

1. UNSDG’s adopted. Next priority – economic development – More jobs, better incomes
2. Rates rises will decrease and debt repayment can begin
3. Peninsula is almost possum-free
4. South Dunedin will be saved
5. Annual volunteer funding for recreational tracks & trails

Jules Radich is looking to continue the work he started and deliver even more as part of a collaborative Council.

He believes in keeping citizens informed as well as including them in decision-making.

His opinions on many issues come backed by practical experience in the real world of business ownership. 

Having been in business in Dunedin for several decades, Jules enjoys a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. 

His focus is for "strength in unity". He strives always to unite people not divide them.

Jules' style of inclusive leadership and lifetime of team sport, means he is able to work well with others to get things done for Dunedin.

He himself is an example of the melting pot of included cultures typical of New Zealanders. His Scottish grandmother gave him a determination to thrift, efficiency, and effectiveness which is always needed in Council and is appreciated by some ratepayers as their Mayor. 

His Maori grandmother bequeathed her love of the land and the sea. Jules is a long-standing member of Forest & Bird with a large garden of native trees and songbirds naturally disposing him to environmentalism and eco-protection. 

An Irish grandfather gave him a love of adventure, culture, and living life to the full which shows up in his enthusiasm for motorcycle riding, spearfishing, art, books, and outdoor activity. All these, Dunedin has in abundance to be protected and promoted.

Lastly, his Dalmation grandfather left him with an inclination to independence, business, and hard work - all of which Dunedin needs if we are to hold our rightful title as the best place to live in New Zealand. In case you were not aware, Dunedin ranks No1 in NZ for Quality of Life.

Now his mission is to leverage the strengths of Dunedin to attract and grow investment, businesses, jobs and incomes in our fair city.

Born in Southland, Jules came to Dunedin to gain a science degree. After teaching science and physics for a few years, he ventured forth on the typical NZ Overseas Experience which lasted several years before returning to Dunedin to start a motorcycle shop thus turning his enduring enthusiasm for two wheels into an occupation.

Jules developed a very successful business team with Uptown Motorcycles, which he started from scratch here in Dunedin in 1984, and grew steadily for 20 years through a period of relentless decline in the motorcycle industry. After selling Uptown Motorcycles in 2004, Jules managed the Golden Centre for a few years then started Actioncoach Otago which he ran actively for 14 years, helping other business owners achieve their goals. He currently has interests in several NZ companies including Izon Science, a Dunedin-originated nanotech company which now has offices around the world. 

As a team sports player for 50 years, Jules appreciates the value of having everyone working to an overall plan but able to express their individual talents. In his current sport of Underwater Hockey, Jules enjoys competing at local level where his knack for bringing out the best in others has won many tournaments.

Another strength is problem-solving which may be seen in his advocacy for the repair of the iconic poles on the beach at St Clair. These poles have been the most beloved art object in Dunedin with more photographs taken and artworks sold than any other object in the city. They were not an old wharf, they were a groyne, commonly used extensively in Europe to trap sand on beaches.

More sand is something that St Clair desperately needs. Poles with planks are the only proven mechanism to achieve that. Note that the red building on top of the sand dunes in the centre of this photograph below, has now been demolished and the dunes below where it used to stand are eroded away. You may find much more information on the topic at StClairBeach.co.nz 

Jules is active in the community. Throughout the year, there are always projects in progress and Jules does enjoy lending a hand when it is feasible.

A couple of other useful Saddle Hill Community Board (SHCB) projects included installation of a BBQ facility at the Brighton Domain and expansion of the carpark at Kaikorai Estuary.

Another project, inspired by the SHCB, but just slightly out of the area, was the installation of navigational safety cameras at Taieri Mouth. These are useful for fishers and recreational boaties crossing the bar or even just messing about in boats at the river mouth. The website includes 5 days of still images so that you can go back and see where the channel was at the last few low tides and also where other boaties, especially the commercial fishing boats are crossing. The address is: https://taierimouth.org.nz/

Occasionally, regular drivers cannot be there on a particular day, so Jules enjoys using his Smart car for Meals on Wheels deliveries if he is called upon. The vehicle is particularly suitable because it is so nippy and can fit into tiny parks, especially on our hill suburbs.

A foundation member of the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Jules is an enthusiastic supporter of our native wildlife. With plenty of native trees at home, he traps possums on an ongoing basis and enjoys the resulting birdsong and flutter of fantails in particular. One unusual delight was having a morepork roost in a punga at his backdoor for many years in the coldest winter weeks.