Invercargill's mayor of more than 20 years was a no-show at the latest mayoral debate, but nine challengers picked up the gauntlet and shared their vision for the southern city.
It was a packed room and stage at the Southland Business Chamber's mayoral debate last night, but Sir Tim Shadbolt, who has been at the helm since 1998, declined to attend and instead a statement was read out, saying he believed the focus would be on how he delivered his message rather than the content.
"After nine terms in office, you should be well aware of my strengths and weaknesses. It is for my challengers to take up the gauntlet and prove themselves to you."
It has been a rocky few years for the council, plagued with governance issues and in-fighting - although subsequent reviews have found a lot of progress has been made.
Former deputy mayor Toni Biddle said the council could not keep squeezing money out of rates, suggesting some project cutbacks to reduce costs.
"The council has adopted ... $150 million worth of capital works on top of core infrastructure investments.
"And that's what scares me the most because we don't have the affordability to keep up with that."
Radio broadcaster Marcus Lush did not want to see cuts to the city street revamp.
"We've assured the retailers that we would finish it, those retailers have put with diggers and people for months outside their shops.
"We promised them we'd do it, we need to complete it. To not do that would just be unfair on those people."
When asked to describe the role of the mayor, current councillor Darren Ludlow said if council was a circus, the mayor was the ringmaster.
"The ringmaster has two roles - one to keep the show going and make sure that all the acts are running smoothly.
Nine candidates vying for the Invercargill City mayoralty shared their vision for the city during a mayoral debate on Wednesday night. Photo / RNZ
"But also to present a bit of pizzazz to the people who have come along to see the show as well, and that's a lot of it. You're an advocate, bit of a showman, but it's actually making sure that council runs really well."
Broadcaster and MC Scotty Stevenson put them through their paces, threatening anyone who took a lackadaisical approach to the time limits they'd have to hold a fake lobster for their crimes against time management. While there were a few close calls, no one received the lobster.
Former New Zealand First List MP Ria Bond said the council needed to have a seat at the table when Three Waters is being discussed.
"When we lose our infrastructure and our water rights, we actually lost our investment in our pipes, stormwater, drinking water.
"We need to let this government know they won't take away our assets."
Current Bluff Community Board member Noel Peterson said he had learned a lot while sitting in the public gallery at most council meetings.
Housing was an area that self-described TikToker Tom Morton hoped to tackle if he got the top job, saying more building inspectors were needed.
When asked about the biggest risk to the city from climate change, Stevey Chernishov said there should be less focus on building a safe world, and more on adventure.
"To be able to take risks and be able to embrace the fact that we're all going to figure out that there's a storm coming, there's an earthquake coming, let's just be epic."
Stevenson quipped: "Yes, I think one of the larger concerns for the room, Mr Chernishov, is doing that by not being underwater".
When asked to give her two-minute sales pitch, Jacqueline Walter said: "I offer you my servanthood".
Some ratepayers weren't sold on who they'd pick by the end of the debate, with one saying he was unimpressed with a lot more than he was impressed with.
• Noel Peterson • Nobby Clark • Ria Bond • Tom Morton • Darren Ludlow • Stevey Chernishov • Toni Biddle • Tim Shadbolt • Marcus Lush • Jacqueline Walter
