Councillors stay mum on election plans

All but a few Far North District councillors are keeping mum on their election plans as the nomination date looms. Nominations for the October 13 local body elections open on July 19 and close on August 16.

So far former Northland MP John Carter, currently New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, is the only Far North mayoral candidate. Incumbent Wayne Brown, now in his second term, has yet to decide whether to seek a third term. If he stands, he says, he is likely to hand in his nomination a few minutes before the deadline.

Deputy Mayor Ann Court is also holding off with her decision on the mayoral race. She has said, somewhat colourfully, that she is sitting so firmly on the fence she has a backside full of splinters, adding that her decision will depend on which way the Local Government Commission is heading with the Far North's unitary authority bid and who else is standing. She is, however, committed to running for a fourth term on the council.

Other councillors whose names have cropped up in mayoral rumours are Kaitaia businessman Monty Knight, and, to his bemusement, Kerikeri valuer Steve McNally. Both say they have yet to decide whether to stand for council, let alone the mayoralty.

Another name mentioned in mayoral whispers is former Kaitaia Intermediate School principal and Labour list MP Kelvin Davis, who has scotched the rumours.

In the 2010 election Mr Brown was challenged by former Auckland airport CEO Sir John Goulter (now Ngapuhi Asset Holdings chairman), former deputy Mayor Laurie Byers and artist Hugh McKechnie. Mr Byers has previously spoken of "unfinished business" at the council, but none of the three are expected to stand this time, although Mr McKechnie has not ruled it out.

Apart from Mr Knight, the current councillors in Te Hiku ward are Kaitaia's Chief Fire Officer Colin Kitchen and farmer Mate Radich. Mr Kitchen, who had a knee replacement two weeks ago, has not yet decided what he will do, with health one of his key considerations, while Mr Radich says he will probably stand for re-election but has yet to make a decision. He says he is pleased with the current council's efforts to reduce debt and minimise rates increases.

In the Kaikohe-Hokianga Ward, Sally Macauley, another former deputy Mayor, is definitely standing again. She says there is still a lot to be done in her ward and work in progress she wants to finish. Labour Party worker Tracy Dalton, who came close to being named deputy Mayor at the start of this term, is another undecided. She says it takes a term to get a good understanding of council issues so it would be a waste not to stand again, but that has to be weighed up against other considerations.

The other councillors in the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward, apart from Ms Court and Mr McNally, are businesswoman Di Maxwell and former engineer Tom Baker, who has recovered from an injury which put him out of action for part of the current term. Mr Baker says he will decide whether to stand again only once he sees who the mayoral candidates are. Ms Maxwell is also yet to decide.

The only non-councillor to publicly declare an intention so far is Rawene's Chief Fire Officer David Williams, who will stand in the Kaikohe-Hokianga ward. Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board member John Schollum will stand again for the board, and is still considering whether to try running for a council seat.