Steve Chadwick, Dennis Curtis, and Rob Kent all received enthusiastic applause from the crowd of 200 at the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce mayoral candidates debate this evening.
However, this was not the case for fellow candidate Reynold Macpherson, who received boos for his comments on Te Tatau o Te Arawa.
Mayoral candidates (from left) Rob Kent, Steve Chadwick, Dennis Curtis and Dr Reynold Macpherson. Photo / Stephen Parker
Chadwick, Curtis, and Kent proposed strengthening and even widening the work of the iwi partnership, however, Macpherson described it as "inappropriate".
He said all interest groups needed to be heard equally and "to select one group and allow them co-governance rights and powers is a little too far".
This was greeted with boos from some of the audience.
Mayoral candidate Steve Chadwick. Photo / Stephen Parker
Incumbent mayor Steve Chadwick held nothing back in her opening speech, declaring she wanted to "ensure that the projects under way are completed" in the face of "a campaign of misinformation" from doubters.
She said the council could not deliver the 2030 projects with reduced rates but could put more tension on council-controlled organisations "to make sure that we are getting value for money".
Chadwick said partnerships were the key to reducing financial pressures on the council, and through these, it raised $70 million for the Whakarewarewa, Lakefront, Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre and Rotorua Museum projects to name a few.
Mayoral candidate Rob Kent. Photo / Stephen Parker
Meanwhile, Rob Kent focused on council finances.
He said growth had to be carefully managed or "an increasing spiral of rates and debt" would arise from what he called "ambitious" capital projects, including the Lakefront development, which he strongly supported.
"Council must learn to operate efficiently and cost-effectively which it certainly isn't now."
He proposed simplifying the committee recommendation process and amalgamating some.
Mayoral candidate Dr Reynold Macpherson. Photo / Stephen Parker
Dr Reynold Macpherson began with his credentials, describing himself as "an organisational scientist".
He said the city's stormwater infrastructure was "a major impediment to housing development at the moment" and "nonsense" legal clashes with the regional council had to stop.
Macpherson also raised concerns about overinvestment into public relations, public exclusion from too many meetings and he sought widespread forensic audits of the council and organisations under its control.
He said the Residents' and Ratepayers' Association he led had been "vilified" over the past six years.
Mayoral candidate Dennis Curtis. Photo / Stephen Parker
Final speaker Dennis Curtis emphasised the value of partnerships, particularly with iwi, and businesses and central government, as well as responding directly to public feedback and having unified councillors "on the same waka".
"I congratulate Stevie and the relationships she has advocated for... they have boded well for us going into the future, but it doesn't stop there... Infrastructure and the three waters, they're the priority."
His other priorities included families and children, protecting assets and resources, and sustainability.
Election dates.
Questions from the crowd
How would you address the housing crisis? Kent - "We have to make subdivisions available and make the land available ... Secondly we have got to [advocate to] do something about this dreadful Building Act and all the nonsense that goes with it."
Why are you not running, for a councillor role too? Curtis - "When focused on leadership... I cannot divide my purpose, I do not have a fallback position. I am doing it for the community and I am giving it 110 per cent." Chadwick - "You either have passion to be the leader [or you don't] and that's where the buck stops with me and I am prepared to stand or fall."
What will you do about lawlessness in the central city? Macpherson - "The social control mechanisms available to us are the police and with a combination of other agencies that assist they can increase their foot patrols and surveillance of these crime hotspots."
