By KCNews reporters (apologies in advance for the length of this article but there were 28 candidates on show).
Nerves were clearly in evidence as Mayoral, District-wide, Maori Ward, two Local Wards, and Greater Wellington candidates faced a well attended Grey Power meeting in Paraparaumu on Friday.
For many candidates this is not only their first election but it was also their first public meeting and it showed, while some others excelled in the spotlight.
Of the District-wide candidates Gavin Welsh continues to impress, as he had done in the Its In The Ballot show last week. Current Deputy Mayor Lawrence Kirby again looked assured and spoke with authenticity while facing some tough questions. Former councillor Jackie Elliott also impressed and has a plan for reducing council debt. Joanna Turner urged greater transparency and suggested all ratepayers should receive the council newsletter. Ms Turner also favoured more commercial sponsorship for public amenities such as Mahara Gallery. Joanne Welch supports capping rates at 3% and Grant Bartlett supported amenities for youth such as the Skatepark at Paraparaumu Beach.
Next up it was the Mayoral candidates. Liz Koh said the debt is too high and the challenge is to get the balance right when reducing debt while protecting our core infrastructure. Ms Koh said ratepayers are paying $450 a year in interest on the debt and that is not sustainable. Martin Halliday put a strong emphasis on health and housing issues with his tagline ‘I get things done’.
Former councillor Rob McCann was up next and said more than anything else council needs to listen to the community. He blamed the previous government and council for Plan Change 2 and wants debt to be intergenerationally apportioned.
Dean Harris said he had set up Concerned Ratepayers Wellington region and would be capping rates at 3%. He said Kāpiti needed growth but was very sceptical of the planned spend on economic development with no metrics on the likely return.
Current Mayor Janet Holborow was next to speak and congratulated Grey Power and the ‘amazing list of candidates’. She said her inclusive leadership style had worked well and Kāpiti was now in a position where it has one of the lowest rates rises in New Zealand.
Kim Hobson said he has been a business owner since 1984 and his profile is not as well known as others. Mr Hobson said Kāpiti meets the criteria for a 146-bed hospital and pressure must be put on central government. He said we must have social infrastructure in place to cope with growth.
With so many candidates it is difficult to review them all so here are some highlights in the speakers order:
Paraparaumu Ward Candidates: Paul Baggott – rates reform needed, more dialogue with central government, need more jobs. Fiona Vining – Family lawyer and tax lawyer. Warned against those who say they will get rates down but haven’t produced any ideas on how to do it. Euon Murrell – Five time councillor at Porirua and term as deputy mayor. Passionate about giving back to the community . Glen Cooper – Offering commonsense fiscal responsibility. Very supportive of community groups such as CRU – one of the outstanding candidates at the meeting. Chris Harwood started with ‘I Have a Dream’ but says it is becoming unaffordable. She stands for change in how democracy works between elections. Ms Harwood says the bills are too high, rates, insurance, power. Strongly supports 3% rates cap. Glen Olsen – born and bred in Paraparaumu, and current chair of the Paraparaumu Community Board. Aware of all the issues. Bernie Randall – Said we are being asked to pay more and get less.Wants business rates removed and no funding for district art gallery.
Next up were two of the Raumati Ward candidates. First up Bede Laracy said he had the privilege of chairing the Raumati Community Board the last three years and wants to keep his people first policy at Council. Wants better health care, the Gold Card to be 24/7 and as the bell signalled the end of his time gave the best final line with… blah blah blah vote Bede.
Zelda Edwards is a newcomer to local politics but has a very impressive resume. Ms Edwards is concerned about the increasing polarisation in politics and emphasised the need to work collaboratively for the well-being of the community. Would not impose artificial cap on rates.
Five of the Kāpiti Maori Ward candidates were next.
Kāpiti Coast Grey Power President and former Kāpiti Coast Deputy Mayor Roger Booth said after the meeting “the highlight for me at the Paraparaumu meeting was the first opportunity for residents to hear from the set of mainly young candidates vying for the Kāpiti Coast Maori Ward Councillor position. Five of six candidates were there, and they provide local Maori with a healthy range of candidate choice.
“I believe that the recent decision of Kāpiti Coast District Council to allow for the creation of a local Maori Ward, with full status as a Councillor, is an exciting one. And the selection of candidates is impressive,” said Mr Booth.
Himiona Grace was first up – he is standing as a Te Pati Maori candidate and has held a national role with the party for 10 years. Mr Grace said Maori are being priced out of their own communities with high house prices and high rents and he favours affordable housing solutions. He said it was important the ward stays and said tick to keep the Maori Ward.
Brian Ruawai-Hamilton noted there were very few in the audience who were Maori and said his korero is to convince the wider audience of the importance of keeping the Maori Ward.
Deanna Rudd acknowledged the difficulty and challenge of dealing with Government over-reach into local government. She said ‘we will continue to demonstrate manakitanga and whanaungatanga and sees a Maori Ward as an important part of the operation of council.
Jordon Wansbrough led off with a stiring rendition of kamate kamate. Mr Wansbrough said he was standing because what he sees is a lack of representation ‘for Maori, for youth, for those with disabilities’.
Jason Thurston says there needs to be a review of the Alcohol Policy and advocates the free use of halls. Mr Thurston says the mana whenua partnership with Council has established principles now and he would work alongside the rest of the Council in upholding the Treaty. Mr Thurston said rates affordability was a big issue for everyone.
Mr Booth said “to cap things off, as a demonstration of how the local iwi can combine, they finished with a great spontaneous waiata.”
Last up (after 3 hours) were the two Greater Wellington candidates Penny Gaylor and Sam Ferguson.
Ms Gaylor said she was proud to be from Ōtaki where her family are raised. She chairs the Environment Committee and had brought the Whaitua Scheme to Kāpiti. She said the train services to Ōtaki will happen when the new trains are purchased which GW is currently negotiating. They are expected to be on line by 2029.
Mr Ferguson said he was born in Paraparaumu and lives in Paekākāriki. He is currently on the Horizons regional council and chairs the Public Transport Committee. Mr Ferguson said in his time the bus network doubled and he has driven through the funding for the Kāpiti to Palmerston North trains.
Mr Booth says he was highly satisfied that a well-attended first-up of four Local Body Candidate Meetings yesterday ‘gave attendees plenty to think about’.
The other Grey Power Candidate meetings are:
Tuesday 29 August at Waikanae Community Centre at 10am
Wednesday 3 September at Waikanae Community Centre at 6pm
Friday 5 September at Ōtaki Memorial Hall at 2pm