Maher returns to council

A Marlborough farmer returning to the council chamber after a tight vote says he hopes to strengthen the relationship between rural residents and the region’s decision-makers.

Francis Maher will once again represent the Wairau-awatere ward after beating nearest rival Scott Adams by just 13 votes. The seat was ‘‘too close to call’’ after Saturday’s preliminary count, but updated results on Sunday revealed Maher would join incumbents Gerald Hope and Cynthia Brooks in the rural ward.

Maher, who stepped down as councillor in 2013 after 15 years, said he was ‘‘rural to the back teeth’’ but it made his ‘‘blood boil’’ when rural people accused the council of favouring town over country.

‘‘I feel passionate about farming, but I realise I’m part of a larger community,’’ he said.

Maher said he was looking forward to ‘‘building relationships’’.

Farmers needed to stay positive when adapting to new legislation, such as the Ministry for the Environment’s new freshwater proposals, Maher said.

‘‘I’m looking forward to that. One of my characteristics is working with people to get a result.’’

Outgoing councillor and Waihopai Valley farmer Geoff Evans said earlier this month there was a ‘‘severe’’ shortage of trust between local government and farmers.

But Maher said the idea that local government favoured urban over rural was down to the perception of the individual, as councillors were supportive of rural issues. ‘‘I’m very excited to return. It’s a new start, to a degree, but I’ve got all the experience from the past, which gives me the confidence to hit the ground running,’’ he said. One of Maher’s driving factors was that four of his five daughters would return to Marlborough in the next year, bringing with them about seven grandchildren.

‘‘When I started on the council, I thought rivers and roads were the main thing . . . but it’s got to be balanced with community facilities.’’

Adams could not be reach for comment yesterday.

Electoral officer Dean Heiford said there were 59 special votes still to count, but this would not impact the Marlborough results.

Other newcomers include David Croad and Thelma Sowman in the Blenheim ward, and Barbara Faulls in the Marlborough Sounds ward.

John Leggett would head the council as mayor after a landslide re-election. The first full council meeting of the new term would be held on October 31, with the committee structure announced, a deputy chosen, and councillors officially sworn in. Official results from the 2019 election will be released tomorrow.