Watch the full Local Focus interview for Chandulal-Mackay's views on the region's biggest issues, and our less important quickfire questions.
Josh Chandulal-Mackay is concerned that Three Waters reform will hinder council's ability to "make decisions locally around responding to growth" and its impact on Māori self-determination over water as a taonga.
Chandulal-Mackay, who is a Labour Party supporter, says the nature of local government is that no single issue should be seen as a priority.
He says councillors "are charged with governing the entire city, the entire district - and that means a lot of issues are going to need to be paid attention to".
Having said that, housing is "a big one" for Chandulal-Mackay who believes the council should be focused on intensification.
