The region’s mayors, from left, Alex Walker (CHB), Kirsten Wise (Napier), Craig Little (Wairoa), Sandra Hazlehurst (Hastings), and Hinewai Ormsby, chairwoman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, are preparing for a busy election year.
The region’s mayors, from left, Alex Walker (CHB), Kirsten Wise (Napier), Craig Little (Wairoa), Sandra Hazlehurst (Hastings), and Hinewai Ormsby, chairwoman of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, are preparing for a busy election year.
Twenty-two of Hawke’s Bay’s 56 councillors have confirmed they will restand in this year’s elections, while two are publicly calling time.
Napier City councillor Maxine Boag said after enjoying the privilege of 18 years as a Napier City councillor, she’s not running again.
“I want to spend more time in the community, where I feel I can best serve the people,” Boag said.
Central Hawke’s Bay councillor Tim Aitken is also standing down. “After nine years, it’s time for someone else to step up,” he told Local Democracy Reporting.
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise and CHB Mayor Alex Walker have both confirmed they will be standing for mayor.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said she was undecided at this stage and Wairoa Mayor Craig Little was “seriously considering standing for the Wairoa mayoralty”.
The only other potential contender for a mayoralty to publicly state an interest so far is Hastings councillor Damon Harvey, who says he is keen to restand as a councillor “while also strongly considering the mayoralty”.
“It’s a big year, with more rate rises and trying to get council debt under control,” he said.
Little said the next few years were pivotal for Wairoa.
“Two flood events within 18 months of each other have placed tremendous pressure on our district, and it is imperative that our future work and planning supports the recovery, resilience and growth of Wairoa.
“Now is a time for experience and strong leadership, particularly as we work through the enormity of the flood mitigation project.”
Napier councillor Maxine Boag announced that after 18 years, she will not seek re-election in the 2025 local body elections.
Hazlehurst said Heretaunga Hastings had a big year ahead with the cyclone recovery and rebuild.
“We are focused on infrastructure delivery, specifically the reconnection of our rural communities and building water infrastructure to enable new affordable homes for Flaxmere.
“Council’s focus for the first quarter will be community consultation around delivery models for Local Water Done Well,” she said.
“We will continue to work with our development community to revitalise our CBD and at the same time complete the Regional Archive and Storage Centre.
“We will be working with our regional partners and Government on our Regional Deal which will include water certainty and regional housing.
“There is a lot to do.
“I will make my decision about whether I restand for the Hastings mayoralty in the middle of the year,” Hazlehurst said.
Wise will be standing for her third term as Napier mayor while Walker is up for her fourth term in CHB.
Wise said Napier had come too far to go backwards now.
“I want to deliver on ratepayers’ investment in core services; water, roading and quality long-term infrastructure; and make sure the city’s essential projects are completed in a financially sustainable way,” she said.
“This is a time for stability, we cannot afford to lose momentum.
“I have a deep understanding of the upcoming reforms from central government and strong relationships in our community.
“I have been able to tackle the challenges facing our city head-on because of the relationships that have been built, and those relationships have sustained our shared focus on the future through difficult times.
“I am restanding to deliver on the progress we have made together.”
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chairwoman Hinewai Ormsby said at this stage she intends to restand for council and, if elected, for chairperson.
Central Hawke’s Bay councillor Gerard Minehan said he found himself at a crossroads.
“While I am passionate about continuing to serve our community, my wife’s health, treatment and wellbeing of my family are my top priority at this time,” he said.
“This is not an easy decision, and I am taking the time to carefully weigh up my responsibilities to both my family and our local community. A final decision will be made closer to this year’s October local council elections.”
HBRC councillor Neil Kirton said he would be standing for re-election, but was yet to decide which council he would stand for this time.
