Cindie Uddstrom

Cindie is a Greymouth-born business owner with a background in IT and manufacturing. She studied Information Technology at Tai Poutini Polytechnic before moving to Wellington to build a career in computer networking. After ten successful years in the industry, she returned home to take over her father’s fibreglass manufacturing business, growing it into a national supplier of high-quality fibreglass products.

Cindie remains actively involved in the equestrian community. She is treasurer of the Grey Valley Riding Club and advocates for recreational access and road safety for riders. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her horse, Sox, and cares for orphaned ducklings and other birds during spring and summer for the local SPCA.

Living in both urban and rural communities has shown Cindie how easily perspectives can diverge. She believes many frustrations stem from misunderstanding—and that genuine conversation could help bridge these divides and create a more hopeful, stable path forward.

Cindie believes New Zealand needs to return to long-term thinking. Trying to recreate the “good old days” is holding the country back, rather than preparing it for the future. “We have this amazing land and people, and it’s upsetting to see deliberate division being sown. We’ve drifted too far apart—we need to come together again and remember we’re all just trying to do our best.”

As a third-generation Coaster, Cindie knows the value of knowledge 'at the coal-face'. She believes strong, prosperous regions are built by including local communities in decision-making and creating a shared vision for the future that can stand the test of time.