Local Focus: Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst excited and proud

Around the country mayors are reaching the half-way point in their three-year terms.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst is a little different having been elected late last year, but like the country's other mayors, she has 18 months to prove herself.

She said she had an open door policy and a visitor every half hour, which helped connect her with people and issues.

"It's very much about making sure I'm connected with our people."

Hazlehurst's priorities for the year ahead included water infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water, as well as housing and employment.

"We are now investing in infrastructure in Irongate, Omahu, Whakatu – to create employment," she said.

"We need to get all our young people into education, training and employment."

The relationship with iwi needed improvement, the mayor said, as highlighted by the Craggy Range track debacle.

"We have to make sure we are inclusive to our wider community."

Hazlehurst said she was excited about the redevelopment of the Hawke's Bay Opera House and associated buildings.

"The Plaza will be an amazing theatre to add to the opera house precinct and this year we will start on the Municipal Buildings."

Hastings District was an "incredible place", she said, with "the most amazing food that supplies the world".

"We have amazing people doing incredible stuff in our district and I'm incredibly proud."

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