Council changes around the region
HUTT CITY COUNCIL
Like Justin Lester in Wellington, Hutt City was incumbent’s Ray Wallace’s to lose. And like Lester he did. Campbell Barry was a fresh face around the council table when he made a very public stand about councillors getting cooked chicken dinners at council meetings while many constituents were suffering. Barry went on to reveal previously secret draft plans to sell off the Queen St Reserve in Wainuiomata, leading to a backdown by Wallace who claimed there were no such plans. Despite the nice public messages, it is safe to say there will be no love lost when Barry sees the back side of Wallace. But any joy will be short-lived with the re-election of Chris Milne, a fierce opponent.
Preliminary council:
Campbell Barry (mayor), Chris Milne, Tui Lewis, Leigh Sutton, Andy Mitchell, Keri Brown, Josh Briggs, Simon Edwards, Naomi Shaw, Shazly Rasheed, Brady Dyer, Deborah Hislop. PORIRUA CITY COUNCIL
Mike Tana, Mike Tana, Mike Tana. All the talk was of incumbent Porirua Mayor Mike Tana and his refusal to release an auditor’s report into his fuel spending, even as he insisted its findings exonerated him. Tana’s one term at the top was cut short by Porirua-born, Paremata-raised, Whitby-living Anita Baker. Baker was a councillor for nine years – over three terms – since former councillor and mayor Nick Leggett turned up one day and suggested she should stand. She previously said her campaign would highlight her experience, financial nous, proven ability and honesty. ‘‘I’m a ‘say it as it is’ kind of person, you won’t die wondering what I think.’’
Preliminary council:
Anita Baker (mayor), Josh Trlin, Ross Leggett, Nathan Waddle, Euon Murrell, Izzy Ford, Kylie Wihapi, Faafoi Seiuli, Moze Galo, Geoff Hayward, Mike Duncan.
UPPER HUTT CITY COUNCIL
Perhaps the least exciting, most expected result in the region came straight out of Upper Hutt. Wayne Guppy has been mayor of the city since 2001 and will be for another three years and counting. This time around, he won with a majority of just under 2000 and said the news was as exciting now as it was when he got it in 2001. His nearest rival, Angela McLeod, was both pleased and frustrated. ‘‘I’m disappointed but I think the community has given a clear, strong message,’’ she said. ‘‘If one of us hadn’t stood, Gupps might not be mayor.’’
Preliminary council:
Wayne Guppy (mayor), Angela McLeod, Dave Wheeler, Steve Taylor, Tracey Ultra, Hellen Swales, Paul Lambert, Heather Newell, Dylan Bentley, Chris Carson, Blair Griffiths.
KA¯ PITI COAST DISTRICT COUNCIL Ka¯piti Mayor K Gurunathan’s vigil paid off. It was 10.30pm on Saturday that the news came – he was again Ka¯piti’s new mayor. Gurunathan said he had been quietly confident but was delighted with the result. ‘‘It’s a vote for stability during the time of increasing change that Kapiti’s facing.’’ Indeed, it is changing. Rightly or wrongly, the sunny Ka¯piti Coast has a reputation for being a place for the older generation. But that reputation took a dent in Paeka¯ka¯riki, when climate campaigner Sophie Handford, 18, won the local seat. Her campaign manager was 17, too young to vote.
Preliminary council:
K (Guru) Gurunathan (mayor), Angela Buswell, Gwynn Compton, Jackie Elliott, Janet Holborow, Rob McCann, James Cootes, Jocelyn Prvanov, Martin Halliday, Bernie Randall, Sophie Handford. MASTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson was taking nothing for granted on Saturday afternoon when the call came telling her that she had been re-elected. Extended family had come from all over to be at her place for the announcement and let out a ‘‘yahoo’’ that could be heard across the neighbourhood. Patterson’s winning margin was considerable, garnering more than twice the number of votes of her nearest rival Tina Nixon. ‘‘I’m absolutely rapt to be back in and looking forward to doing another term,’’ Patterson said. The council of 10 seats gets a reshuffle with five new councillors earning a spot at the table.
Preliminary council:
Lyn Patterson (mayor), Bex Johnson, Frazer Mailman, Gary Caffell, David Holmes, Brent Gare, Graham McClymont, Tina Nixon, Tim Nelson, Sandy Ryan, Chris Peterson. SOUTH WAIRARAPA DISTRICT COUNCIL The election of Alex Beijen was one of the more surprising results of the regional mayoral contests. The Martinborough-based business executive managed to attract a healthy majority to unseat incumbent mayor Viv Napier, effectively drawing a curtain on her long career in local government. Beijen said with fresh faces on council and new leadership on the staff, South Wairarapa District Council was in a position to usher in a ‘‘golden age’’ for the area. He said though there were challenges around wastewater consents and housing, they were best to tackle issues head on ‘‘instead of just trying to fudge it’’.
Preliminary council:
Alex Beijen (mayor), Rebecca Fox, Alistair Plimmer, Leigh Hay, Ross Vickery, Garrick Emms, Brenda West, Pip Maynard, Pam Colenso, Brian Jephson.
CARTERTON DISTRICT COUNCIL
Two sitting councillors Greg Lang and Jill Greathead were the leading contenders in a four-way battle for the mayoralty but Lang managed to win with a significant majority. Greathead was the highest polling councillor and she will be joined by five new faces on the council. Lang said freshwater supply and earthquake strengthening of buildings in the town centre were going to be high on the agenda this triennium but he also wanted to show vision with the development of projects to enhance the town and rural areas. He said the council needed to transform the retail district into a ‘‘lounge’’ to attract people to come and enjoy relaxing in the area, while also creating a centre of the Wairarapa food hub in the wider region.
Preliminary council:
Greg Lang (mayor), Jill Greathead, Steffen Bertram, Rebecca Vergunst, Robyn CherryCampbell, Rob Stockley, Russell Keys, Steve Cretney, Brian Deller.