Council shake-up has ‘got to have an impact’
Nelson is set to get a new mayor, a new chief executive and at least six new councillors this year. A major shake-up at the city council that will ‘‘undoubtedly’’ have an effect on the region, a business leader says.
‘‘That is a lot of disruption in a very short space of time,’’ Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce boss Ali Boswijk said. ‘‘There is a lot happening locally and nationally – it has got to have an impact.’’
The confirmed departure of five current Nelson city councillors and the mayor will leave a large void.
But the number of current councillors to leave could well be higher.
Councillors Pete Rainey and Rachel Sanson are undecided if they will stand again.
And councillor Matt Lawrey will need to secure the mayoralty if he is to be seen around the council table after October.
Boswijk said it would be ‘‘interesting times’’ for new councillors. ‘‘There is a lot to learn.’’ Putting your hand up for council was not something to be ‘‘done lightly’’, she said.
It was about having people around the council table who were interested in local government and the importance of that position, because decisions made ‘‘have a serious impact on daily lives’’.
She said there had been discussions at the chamber that there needed to be ‘‘some investment happening in the region in terms of civic infrastructure’’.
‘‘You want a decent place to live and people getting into council need to understand investment in infrastructure is important.’’
Nelson mayor Rachel Reese said in May that after 15 years as an elected member on Nelson City Council and nine as mayor, she would be stepping down. Of the 12 councillors, those who will not be serving another term include Gaile Noonan, Yvonne Bowater, Kate Fulton, Brian McGurk and deputy mayor Judene Edgar. Lawrey is running only for mayor. The departure of his colleagues had not caused him to change his mind and stand for council as well, he said.
He wanted to ‘‘devote all my energy’’ to his mayoral campaign.
‘‘It is clear to me that the best way I can now serve the city is as its mayor’’ after serving on the council for nine years, he said.
Rainey said he was waiting to see ‘‘who else put their hat in the ring’’.
‘‘It is a really tough environment and it can lead to huge frustrations, unless you have got a team who are prepared to do some things.’’
Sanson said whether she was going to opt for re-election was a ‘‘million-dollar question’’.
‘‘It is a very difficult culture and a pretty tough place to be.
‘‘I am hopeful that there are going to be some positive changes with a new mayor and new chief executive.’’
Councillor Mel Courtney confirmed he would be standing again as he said council needed ‘‘some continuity’’.
‘‘My background and experience would be valuable at this time in local government when there are a lot of changes pending,’’ Courtney said.
Councillors Tim Skinner and Rohan O’Neill-Stevens are contesting the mayoralty but will also run for council.
And councillor Trudie Brand has also put her hand up to stand as a councillor again.
Meanwhile, former Nelson MP Nick Smith said last week he was still undecided on whether he would run for mayor but he had no interest in pursuing a councillor role.
Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said elected councillors in Nelson faced a few challenges in their roles.
She said the public expected councillors to do their work full-time, and while they often went ‘‘above and beyond, people may not see how much they are doing for part-time payment’’.
To get a broad range of people sitting around the table, she said, councillor roles needed to be resourced properly. Other big changes looming in the local government sphere included Three Waters and the Resource Management Act (RMA) reform.
Boyack said councillors had often felt ‘‘frustrated’’ trying to show their support for Nelsonians.
‘‘They have gone in to show leadership with what the community has asked of them and it is hard to get things across the line.’’
Boyack’s ‘‘clear message’’ to the incoming council was that increasing housing should be ‘‘priority number one’’.
‘‘We have a desperate housing need and I don’t see the deep desire to improve that.’’
She said it was up to Nelson to elect the right people for the job.
‘‘I am sure there will be some old hands still sitting round the table as well as new blood. It is up to Nelson [people] to elect who they want.’’
‘‘It is a really tough environment.’’ Pete Rainey Nelson city councillor