Candidate Eileen Lawson has erected billboards in strategic locations. Photo / Warren Buckland
Candidate Eileen Lawson has erected billboards in strategic locations. Photo / Warren Buckland
Voting for the Hastings District Council's Hastings/Havelock North ward byelection closes at noon on April 11, and the six candidates vying for the seat are campaigning in earnest.
Chris Perley had started putting billboards across the ward area to give people a face and a name, but said nothing was as good as getting out and talking to people.
Rather than doorknocking, he had focused on speaking to groups such as Rotary, not only to promote his vision but also to listen to people and understand their issues.
"The culture of council, within the organisation, and also its relationship with other councils and businesses, is important to people - they are feeling we have not been well served by the culture in our councils."
Candidate Eileen Lawson had also erected billboards in strategic locations, and said she had been attending community events, with more lined up for coming weeks.
"I am also continuing with my work in the community and as always Iooking for ways in which I can make a positive impact, by caring for our people and our land."
She said there was there was a lot of concern around the chlorination of our water, reducing waste, looking after our young and elderly, mental health and making our city more vibrant.
"Also, encouraging economic growth, but balancing this with protecting our environment."
Rion Roben said his campaign was going well - he didn't have billboards, but had been going door to door introducing himself and delivering campaign material, and had been engaging with voters on his Facebook page.
"I still have a lot of ground to cover but I hope to have personally hand-delivered to over 3000 homes by the time voting begins."
He had also been out and about at community events, and said the top topic people brought up with him was river health and water quality, but also the Te Mata Peak track, rates, and how hard it was to find a place to rent.
"Many of those that I have spoken to were surprised by news of the upcoming election, but despite this have all offered kind words of encouragement and support."
"Steady, unwavering and promising" was how Alezix Heneti described her campaigning to date, much of which was being conducted across social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, but also via social groups, neighbours, family, business contacts and flyers.
She said she was talking and listening to a lot of voters each day, the main issues being recycling options, safe drinking water and resources, gambling, housing and homelessness, unbalanced ethnic representation, and high food costs.
Employment issues were also raised, including the need for paid employment for the younger bracket (16 to 25 years old) as well as those aged 55 and over, and self-employment opportunities for all ages.
Stuart Perry said while voters were "electioned out" there were many who were unhappy with a range of issues, and wanted to see real change at the council.
He said he may put up some billboards to remind people who he was but felt that the district was unimpressed with the "visual pollution" of billboards during the general election and Hastings mayoral election.
Water, Te Mata Peak and the council not listening and communicating were issues he had come across and he thought that voters wanted to see more action and less talk.
"Havelock North people have been frustrated by constant roadworks and generally Hastings residents are still hot on chlorine in their water supply – understandable considering for the last century they have been blessed with pure untreated water."
Caught up with delivering the census, Bruce Bisset said he hadn't had a lot of time for campaigning yet, but felt that ensuring the right data was gathered for councils as well as ministries to plan with was more important.
"Not that I don't wish to be elected, but sometimes one good thing trumps another."
In his discussions with voters he said he had seen how the Havelock North water crisis had enlightened people on the different roles of the regional and district councils.
"And there is growing concern about whether the port will be privatised, which could well happen if the regional council follows a private funding model."