Horowhenua mayor seeks another term
Horowhenua District mayor Bernie Wanden has announced he will seek another term in the region’s top role.
This comes after councillor Sam Jennings announced he would run for mayor in late April.
Wanden, who is coming to the end of his first term as mayor, said it was a role he was becoming more comfortable in.
‘‘I think it’s a role you only start getting used to in that latter third. So I’m keen to carry on the momentum that we have created over the last 21⁄
2 years and continue to grow the district.’’
He said it had been a challenging time, as Covid-19 broke out just six months into the term.
This meant looking out for the welfare of the community, but also using Government funding to bring forward projects that were planned for the future.
Wanden said the Taraika infrastructure project, the Foxton River Loop and the Fale Lotu Pasifika churches renovation project had added hugely to the community.
Deciding the future of the Levin Landfill before the end of the term was also a priority.
Councillors voted in April to defer a decision on closing the landfill until after an evaluation had been made by new chief executive Monique Davidson.
Wanden said the Horowhenua 2040 Blueprint that was signed off by council on Wednesday would give council plenty of scope and potential to do things over the next three years.
‘‘It is a real privilege being the mayor, and I’m pretty sure I have the energy and the commitment to do another three years and I look forward to serving the community as best I can.’’
No other councillor has announced their intention to make a run for the mayoralty.
Councillors Wayne Bishop, Robert Ketu and Piri-Hira Tukapua said they would be standing for re-election in their council seats.
While councillor Todd Isaacs, a representative of the Levin Ward, said he would not be standing for reelection.
Isaacs said being a councillor was a fulltime job, but that was not the case for smaller district councils.
He didn’t think people realised how time-consuming the role was, and he said there should be fewer councillors, but they should work fulltime.
‘‘I’ve given it 100%, and I will to the end,’’ Isaacs said.
Deputy mayor Jo Mason and councillors Christine Mitchell, Ross Brannigan and David Allan were yet to decide whether they would stand for re-election.
Councillor Victoria Kaye-Simmons said she was not ready to announce her intentions.