Richmond ward candidates have their say
Ten people are vying for four Richmond ward councillor positions on the Tasman District Council. By Cherie Sivignon.
Richmond is the largest and fastest-growing settlement in Tasman District. A 2021 population estimate of 15,400 is already out of date.
The Richmond ward has four vacancies around the Tasman District Council table.
Ten people are vying for one of those councillor roles, including Maxwell Clark, who is also running for mayor.
Stuff asked the other nine candidates:
❚ What do you believe is the key issue facing the district, and how would you try to address it?
❚ How would you bring the views of your community/ward to the council table?
❚ Do you support the Government’s Three Waters reform programme? If so, why? If not, how do you propose that future infrastructure upgrades should be funded?
Glen Daikee
Glen Daikee declined to participate.
Jo Ellis
1. The key issue facing ratepayers is the increasing cost of living and the effect of rates on our daily finances. The only way to relieve the pressure on ratepayers is to rein in spending and reduce debt. I will prioritise our ‘‘needs’’ over ‘‘wants’’ while ensuring we get the best value return for your rates.
2. I bring balance, honesty and determination to the role. To make the best decisions, I will listen to you, and carefully weigh the financial, environmental and cultural implications for us all. I will also advocate for the most vulnerable of our community.
3. There are far too many unanswered questions about the implications and detail of how Three Waters will operate in reality to support it. It will not solve or prioritise those issues unique to our environment and community. Our rates should fund infrastructure in our region, not the neglected infrastructure of other regions.
Mark Greening (incumbent ward councillor)
1. The key issues are: Affordability (of rates, water charges and debt), climate change (ie increasing flood risk and environmental degradation), traffic congestion and the future of work (ie income and employment opportunities). Council costs need to come down. A coherent vision and strategy, rates cap and better council leadership is required. Experience counts for nothing if you keep making poor decisions.
2. Normally, I walk around the ward and talk with people about their concerns, and raise them at council. This term, Covid-19 has made that harder to do, but receiving emails, phone calls and website comments from residents has worked well.
3. When you see reckless decisionmaking and risk-taking in local government, like the Waimea Dam’s financing fiasco (which I opposed) and its runaway costs that ratepayers are unfairly burdened with, you can understand why it needs to change. We needed sensible stewardship of your assets and money.
Ray Griffith
1. The community. Many feel, for numerous reasons, that they aren’t being listened to by the elected representatives. I seek your vote to start initiating change through small steps. Being accountable and available to meet with ratepayers regularly and to be engaged in and around the community, which rebuilds a connection and trust.
2. I would commit myself to being accessible and available to all in our community, because I alone don’t have all the answers. But I know that for those in our community who do, I can get them heard.
3. I oppose the current Three Waters reform. I agree with its intent, but under the current plan I don’t see Tasman getting a good deal. So I would seek to make concessions to bring us into a South Island entity, for example. I would also suggest greater partnership with central government or through private organisations to co-fund future infrastructure, to ease the burden on ratepayers.
Kit Maling (incumbent ward councillor)
1. The shortage of social housing. It affects the most vulnerable of our residents. Council is working with social housing providers, but there is a need for more effort. Kāinga Ora nowmeets with council regularly, but meetings need to progress into actions.
2. The Richmond ward does not have a community association, but I have good community connections through sports clubs, schools, Grey Power, and other groups such as Probus, Rotary and the Youth Council. You also get information from residents who ring, text or email you with problems. From this, you get a good sounding board to present and consider community views at council.
3. I do not support the present Three Waters, in particular due to the governance model and the lack of accountability to residents. A regional entity would be such an entity with local governance and accountability to residents. The next key issue would be access to some form of central funding.
Rachel Stevenson
1. The high ratio of council debt. There need to be debt reduction targets. Half of the rates from the new subdivisions of Berryfields and the Meadows, and residential rates from properties built in the last three years, should go into debt reduction until the ratio drops to an agreed level.
2. There needs to be more engagement between councillors and ratepayers. Councillors should spend time in the mall regularly to engage with a wider sector of the community, and bring issues to the council table based on feedback. Local democracy needs to be more accessible and user-friendly.
3. I do not agree with the Three Waters governance model.
Smaller regions will lose out to Wellington council due to the lack of maintenance of its infrastructure. Funding infrastructure through water meter rates and rates bills is working, and I think this model should be used in order to keep Richmond assets under Richmond management.
Adele Terrill
1. I ammost concerned about rapidly increasing centralisation. I stand for a reclaiming of local governance over the issues that concern local people, local business and our local environment. Wellington seems to think it knows best for us, but I believe Tasman District folk are better qualified to steward and revive our region.
2. I aman advocate for transparent, honest and thorough consultation with the community. We need to come up with better ways of engaging our community. If you feel like you are not being heard, then I’m your girl. Listening is my superpower. I would bring the views of my ward to council with understanding and balance and honesty.
3. An emphatic ‘‘no’’. Tasman residents have been paying for our excellent water infrastructure for generations. I would like to see TDC resign from membership of LGNZ and instead join with Communities 4 Local Democracy to fight for local control over our local assets.
Joni Tomsett
1. Housing availability and affordability. Tasman is one of the least affordable areas in NZ, and it is affecting the resilience of our region. We need to intensify further than planned in the Future Development Strategy, and the council needs to enable alternative housing models. Council must continue to take central government funding opportunities, partner with social housing providers, and develop well-designed urban environments.
2. I represent a group of people who are not currently represented. The way to engage younger professionals or families is different to engaging with a standard voter. I will continue to engage with community groups, organisations and businesses, but also use technology more purposely to reach ratepayers who are not currently engaged.
3. I support the intent of the Three Waters reform but with some amendments. I believe the South Island should be one entity, stormwater should not be included, and government should communicate more clearly to councils and the public. I support the co-governance structure.
Tim Tyler
1. As Tasman District is a great place to live, we have growing pains that are putting pressure on council infrastructure and the people who deliver it. I will support a cohesive approach between our local councils and relevant agencies such as Waka Kotahi to address these in accordance with plans already developed, and look to fast-track work that solves pressing needs and provides resilience.
2. I have visited many properties across the ward to listen and ensure that residents know I ama candidate who takes the responsibility seriously. I am keeping a heat map of views and interests as they see them. I also am active in the community, and have contacts across the district.
3. I amsceptical about the proposed structure being effective for the top of the south. Given this is a nationwide initiative, Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman should be part of the South Island or form a distinct region – possibly in concert with the West Coast.