Nominations f lood in for local body elections in Kaiko¯ura

While there has been a shortage of candidates nationwide for local government elections, a last-minute rush kept electoral officers busy in Kaiko¯ ura.

First-term mayor Craig Mackle is facing a challenge from two mayoral hopefuls: Kevin Heays and Ted Howard.

Heays served two terms as Kaiko¯ ura mayor from 2004 to 2010 and has had a varied working life.

He was a school teacher for 20 years, a publican and has worked for the last 10 years for Environment Canterbury as the Kaiko¯ ura water zone lead.

He is also a marriage celebrant.

‘‘All my working life has been working with people in one form or another and that’s a bit of an asset.’’

Heays said he would bring leadership and experience, which the council needed in changing times.

‘‘When I was mayor this place was honking, but then like the rest of the country Covid has set things back.

‘‘So my mission is to get Kaiko¯ ura back to being the place where everyone comes to visit.’’

A one-term councillor, Howard said Kaiko¯ ura needed a change of thinking to navigate the uncertain future.

‘‘I think Craig has done a good job, but we are very different people and I bring a different set of skills.’’

Howard was diagnosed with a terminal illness 12 years ago and survived, which gave him a fresh perspective on life and helped him build resilience.

‘‘I had to face my own mortality and it was definitely not in my life plan.’’

Howard had always had an interest in complex systems and how a society could put in place the social, economic and political systems to allow people to live a longer life.

That thinking meant he was prepared for the 2016 earthquake, he said.

‘‘But it became clear to me that preparing myself was not enough – we need community preparation.

‘‘My aim is to progress that thinking as best I can, and with my limited abilities, to help Kaiko¯ ura to be more resilient.’’

Mackle said he had been impressed with how well the councillors had worked together as a team over the last three years.

He praised council staff for their hard work, including the successful application for $7.8 million funding from Ka¯inga Ora’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.

‘‘It’s all about having the right team and being able to get through the work that they do quickly is amazing.’’

Opening the new Kaiko¯ ura Aquatic Centre was one of his highlights of the last three years.

Now Mackle had his sights set on creating a new hockey turf, developing a road at Ocean Ridge and building elderly housing in the proposed Vicarage Views development.

KAIKO¯ URA DISTRICT COUNCIL NOMINATIONS:

Mayor:

Kevin Heays, Ted Howard, Craig Mackle. (Election required)

Council (7 vacancies, elected at large): Dave Anderson, Tony Blunt, Lisa Bond, John Booker, John Diver, Donna Goodman, Vicki Gulleford, Kevin Heays, Amelia Hollman, Ted Howard, Julie Howden, Marion McChesney, Neil Pablecheque, Robby Roche.

Left, first-term mayor Craig Mackle is facing a challenge from two mayoral hopefuls: Kevin Heays and Ted Howard.