Wairarapa trio race for regional seat

It's a three-horse race for one seat on the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Incumbent Gary McPhee, John Dalziell and Andrew Stewart are vying for the single spot. Each has a different reason for standing.

But two things all three have in common is they see a need for a regional council in some form in Wairarapa and they are standing to represent their community on environmental issues.

Mr McPhee said he was re-standing because he had "unfinished business" on the council. He said for him the issues were looking after the environment in a way that was "user-friendly" while taking into account the effect on all sectors of the community.

"Being practical and not using sledge hammers to crack walnuts - doing what our community wants and needs," he said. As for the future of a regional council in Wairarapa, there was a need but the name of it was irrelevant, Mr McPhee said.

Mr Stewart said the issues he planned to address if elected were critical for shaping the long-term future of the region - from the management of the Ruamahanga catchment to the Wairarapa Water Use Project and the Regional Plan review.

These were about creating sustainable economic development over the long term and clear leadership was needed, he said.

"We need to be careful that the local government debate doesn't put on hold the important work of the regional council over the next two or three years." It was up to the community to decide on the future of the regional council by either supporting or not supporting the Local Government Commission proposals, he said. "Whatever the outcome of local government re-organisation, the work and responsibilities of the regional council will still need to be delivered and are vital for the future of the Wairarapa."

Mr Dalziell said he believed the region needed a councillor who would support the community through this "period of uncertainty" and transition for the council. "The immediate issue is the possibility of change ... "

He would not like to see the region without a regional council but said the decision remained with commissioners.

"Given this, my view is that it would be detrimental for the Wairarapa now and in the future if we did not maintain a local council structure that maintains the ongoing relationship and benefits of a Wellington Regional Strategy for (at the minimum) the implementation of the Resource Management Act."