Deborah Dalliessi continues family tradition of public service

Much like dental cleanings and WoF inspections, sitting through government meetings demands patience at any age.  That Deborah Dalliessi attended council meetings as a child explains a lot about her zest for public service.

Deborah’s father, Bruno Dalliessi, long held the distinction of the youngest mayor elected in New Zealand when, in 1966 at age 29, he ascended to the Picton mayoralty. He held countless leadership positions in Marlborough across three decades.

“I grew up embedded in local body politics,” Deborah explained over coffee. She was seven when she went to her first Council meeting. “So, it was always there.”

Flash forward to 2017 when Deborah returned to Marlborough, having lived outside of the region since heading off to Victoria University while working for NZ Treasury. She came home to care for Bruno, then in his 80s.

Shortly after his death in 2018, Deborah ran for the Marlborough District Council as a first-time candidate. She fell just short of securing a seat; undeterred, she ran again in 2022 and successfully won one of the seven Blenheim Ward seats. Last year, she put her hat in the ring again and was once again successful.

Three months into her second term, she observes that the fresh new configuration of councillors has gelled quickly.  Four are first-timers; two – John Hyndman in Blenheim and Malcolm Taylor in Marlborough Sounds – ran with ACT support.

“Two actually have party affiliations, but we haven’t seen that difference,” Deborah said. “They make their decisions with an open mind based on the information at hand and not party lines.

“It’s early days, but I think it will go very well. What I’m looking forward to are the ongoing robust discussions and good decisions being made for the people of Marlborough.”

Intergenerational

Not surprisingly, family proved an influencing factor in Deborah’s decision to run for Council. Until she returned to Marlborough after 10 years in banking, she held roles including Development Manager at Auckland University and Massey University, and she served on multiple boards.

Bruno remains an enduring influence and motivator for Deborah. When she first bandied the idea of a Council bid, Deborah recalled, “Dad was in my ear whispering, ‘It’s time to give back.’” She chuckled at the memory.

When it came to running again, she thought, “Wow, what a roller coaster. I really need to do a second term to really feel like I have achieved enough.”

Deborah takes her role on Council seriously, yet family matters deeply to her, too. She regularly visits her sons in Auckland and Tauranga and recently invested in a small Air BnB unit with her son in Tauranga. Even so, she says Council and Committee meetings always take precedence.

Deborah strongly believes that transparency and accountability are prime priorities for this term. She would like the Blenheim Ward Councillors to hold public meetings with constituents for more direct and personal interaction. She also would like the public to be privy to records indicating how each Councillor voted on major issues.

Her overarching goal goes back to family. Deborah wants a Marlborough where her future grandchildren can thrive and want to raise their children.

“It’s still the best place in my mind to live for safety, opportunity, and balance,” she said. “We have amazing resources here, and I want to see them protected for future generations.”