Rangitata MP’s resignation
A scandal involving then-Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon was a major feature of July’s news, writes Doug Sail ,aswe continue our series looking at the year.
National’s Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon resigned in disgrace in July after it was revealed he had sent an indecent image to a young woman.
The 37-year-old, elected to Parliament in 2017, announced in a press release on July 20 he would not be contesting the 2020 election, citing a need to maintain his health and wellbeing.
At the time, The Timaru Herald understood the party was alerted to an alcohol-related which was ‘‘unbecoming of an MP’’. The incident involved him sending at least one indecent picture, not of himself, to a young woman over the age of 18. Her parents notified the prime minister’s office.
Over the following days, Falloon faced mounting allegations of sending other explicit sexual images to young women, with at least five saying they had received unwanted messages from him.
Police confirmed an investigation on July 23 after earlier deciding there was not enough evidence to prosecute Falloon for sending a 19-year-old an explicit image. In December, police announced Falloon would not face criminal charges in relation to the matter.
The National Party later named Megan Hands as its Rangitata candidate.
Big-box project warning
Plans for a proposed retail shopping development in Timaru also received plenty of attention, with a presentation to Timaru District councillors warning the town’s CBD was vulnerable to ‘‘large-scale competitive impact’’.
The presentation said 53 per cent of the CBD’s existing retail gross floor area was large format retail stores, which were ‘‘at risk’’ of relocating, as they fit the minimum store size requirements for the Showgrounds Hill development.
‘‘A large new alternative retail development would likely induce many to leave the CBD.’’
The Timaru CBD group demanded an urgent meeting with the council and Timaru District Holdings Ltd over the proposal. It expressed concerns the development was not what had originally been promised.
Two retailers were vocal about the impact of the proposal.
Grant Shaw, of Mac Shaw Menswear, said it would be detrimental to businesses in the CBD.
‘‘It does concern me. If they bring those big retail stores into the Showgrounds, then that’s going to hurt the little people in town,’’ Shaw said.
‘‘The CBD should be the heart of Timaru, we’re not big enough to have two hearts. One would pump the blood out of the other.’’
Ron Brown Jewellers owner Stephen Brown believed the development would lead to ‘‘grim’’ prospects for the CBD.
Brown said several building owners in the CBD were already facing significant costs to bring their buildings up to the new earthquake standards, and a competitor to the CBD would make that job harder to fund.
In December, land use and subdivision consents for the site were granted.
A story for the grandchildren
A dream honeymoon to the Falkland Islands and South America turned into a