Taradale priority for council candidate

David Trim.

Keeping Taradale on the map will be the focus of former mayoral candidate David Trim, if he is elected to Napier City Council in the upcoming elections.

Yesterday the Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce president announced he would be standing for election in the Taradale Ward.

"Taradale is a significant suburb to Napier and needs representatives who can continue to provide strong leadership to ensure it remains a vibrant and prosperous suburb," he said.

A Hawke's Bay resident for more than 20 years, Mr Trim has been actively involved in the business and community sector of both Taradale and Napier over the past 10. He said he believed his business acumen and organisational leadership was just what Taradale needed.

"It's about making sure Taradale doesn't fall behind because it's the largest suburb in Napier, but it hasn't got a major focus," he said - adding that hosting more Art Deco events in the area, or highlighting its cycleways, could ensure Taradale stayed on the map.

The ward had good leadership in its current councillors, Mr Trim said, but he thought maintaining a strong focus on Taradale was needed to ensure nothing "fell off the radar".

In 2013 Mr Trim stood for the Napier mayoralty.

He said going from "outside of council" to that position might have been too difficult, and this time around it would be prudent to keep his focus on council.

"I am excited about applying my strong leadership skills to help Taradale be the best it can be," he said. "I love leadership and believe it is my purpose to use these talents for the benefit of our community and for our local organisations."

As well as other roles, for the past nine years Mr Trim has also organised and managed Napier's Christmas at the Park event at Anderson Park, which has become Hawke's Bay's largest free-entry concert, attracting up to 25,000 people.

The event was noted for its unique fireworks display, a concept Mr Trim created and which included a specially written narration, fused with music and accentuated with pyrotechnics.

"The concert is a gift to the city, and an opportunity to create a true community spirited gathering," he said.