Ayers seeking another term
‘‘It's the best place in New Zealand to be ’’
Incumbent Waimakariri District Mayor David Ayers is seeking another term.
Ayers, who was first elected to the top position in 2010, said ‘‘it has been a privilege to be mayor through the last six years’’.
‘‘I have really enjoyed being out and about all over our district and being part of a community that has largely recovered from the earthquakes (although there is still work to be done) – and being able to play my part in that.’’
Some of the projects undertaken in Ayers tenure include the Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre, the Ashley bridge, the Rangiora and Oxford Town Halls, the earthquake recovery work on Kaiapoi-Pines-Kairaki and regenerated Kaiapoi and Rangiora town centres.
An important resolution he highlighted is ’’righting an historic wrong in the Tuahiwi Maori Reserve so that the ancestors of the original grantees can live on the land as was intended when the land grants were made.’’
He is passionate about the Waimakariri District and has ancestral connections here. It’s where he lives with wife Marilyn and where he has raised his family. He also believes ‘‘it’s the best place in New Zealand to be.’’
Ayers, a self-descibed ‘‘petrol head’’ owns a 1968 Ford Corsair, as well as two Mazda MX5s. He enjoys watching cricket and rugby and many other sports.
He has been married to Marilyn for 47 years and they have raised two sons who now live in Australia, one son works for Foreign Affairs. Both sons were educated in Rangiora and then Canterbury University. He has two granddaughters aged five and three.
Ayers said he was first elected to the Rangiora Borough Council in 1983 ’’apart from 6 years off in the early 2000s, I am still there.’’ A key reason for Ayers decision to run again is to see other projects through to completion. ’’I want to see real progress on making the Kaiapoi-Pines-Kairaki regeneration areas places that the whole district can use and be proud of.
‘‘I also want to see further development of all our town centres as places where our residents can feel they belong.’’
Some of the issues Ayers believes the district is still facing include coping with the pressures of growth, pressures from central government, continuing regeneration work post-earthquake, and keeping the community engaged in the issues that affect them.