Big issues for cash strapped district

Far North mayoral candidate Hugh 'Mac' McKechnie. Photo / APN

Tourism, efficiency and increasing investment are some of the issues Far North District Council candidates are pushing in their bid to lead the North Island's largest council.

The region stretches from the gateway to the Bay of Islands, Kawakawa, to Cape Reinga, covering 7323sq km.

The four mayoral candidates are the incumbent, Wayne Brown, a former Auckland District Health Board chairman; respected business leader Sir John Goulter; former Commonwealth Games cyclist Laurie Byers; and newcomer Hugh McKechnie.

Mr Byers, a western ward councillor for 15 years, believes the area needs more investment - the average income is $19,200 a year.

"Up here, we're in the worst recession since 1937. We live in a wonderful place but when I drive past a school and see the kids coming out, I'm thinking - what are we going to do for them?"

He said the council could encourage investment by reducing the level of development contributions, overseeing zoning changes from rural production to other land uses, and employing a council "navigator" to take potential developers through consent processes in a more efficient manner.

Mr Byers is critical of Mr Brown on a number of issues. He recently alleged poor council staff morale because of layoffs and blamed the mayor.

Mr Brown said the criticisms were off the mark. He had pushed for staff "efficiencies" in his last term and was unapologetic for that.

"The most important thing is I want to come back [into office] to embed all the improved behaviours," he said.

"The staff are now quicker, faster, cheaper and better, but that's largely just because I'm watching. It hasn't become second nature yet."

The coast-to-coast cycleway project, parts of which open this summer, and a tribal-led upgrade of Ngawha Springs hot pools are two tourism developments which will bring in visitors, cash and spin-off benefits for locals.

Mr Brown is claiming both as wins which derive from either his council or his own personal involvement as a facilitator.

"We've got some fantastic things which nobody has got, which come from my council. The hapu has come to see me because I'm an engineer and a developer and the council involvement may be very little but it is going to happen as a result of me being the mayor."

Sir John is proposing a fees holiday for developers for six months. He says that has led to him being criticised as a "Sheriff of Nottingham" type character.

But with a small rating base - the Far North has only 21,000 households - the "old ways" of gathering council revenue to pay for services do not work any more, he says.

"There aren't any developers up here any more; they're an endangered species.

"What was motivating me to put that forward was that commercial development is down two-thirds, residential is down 50 per cent. We have to do something quite drastic to stimulate demand because without it you don't have any job creation."

Sir John says that with Maori making up 43 per cent of the population and Treaty settlements on their way, iwi are likely to be important economic drivers in the region.

He says thought needs to be given to how they can be involved in private/public infrastructure projects.

Mr McKechnie's approach to campaigning has been on budget. He has spent $410 and has only two signs for the whole region, but reckons the next mayor should take a leaf out of the book of Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt.

"I think we need a promotional mayor - a bit of flair. He's made the whole place come alive just by being a different person. I think I can be that person."