Employment an issue

David Williams, 62, real estate agent, lives in Motutoa in South Hokianga.

What do you like best about the Far North?

The climate by far. It’s never cold. We live in a life of sunshine, rain, happiness and sorrow. If it was sunshine every day it’d be the Sahara desert. How long have you lived here and where are you originally from?

I came from England in 1964 to Auckland until 1968, travelled for quite a while, transferred to Whangarei in the 1970s and bought Rawene service station in 1984. I’ve got a daughter here with two kids, and a son in Los Angeles.

What do you like least and how can we fix it?

Unemployment. We need to encourage businesses to come to the north with a rate reduction and subsidies for employment. The high number of rental properties is a problem. People who are renting the houses don’t have the same social conscious in the community [as home owners].

What’s your favourite eatery?

Koke Pub Cafe.

Your highlight of the week?

Just driving Hokianga roads. The scenery changes so much. Whether it’s going to Koke or in the Waipoua Forest, anywhere you go. And stopping and meeting people.

Who is the Kiwi you most admire?

Sir Edmund Hillary. Because he climbed mountains. If you climb mountains you can overcome anything. I also admire John F Kennedy, he says ‘‘ ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’’. The spot in Northland I’d recommend is .....

Away from the Hokianga the Bay of Islands is pretty nice. But Opononi beach or Rawene otherwise.

If I were Far North mayor I’d ....

Pretty much what John Carter is doing. He’s a good guy. He’s communicated with the people and doing his darndest to promote Northland.

‘‘People who are renting the houses don’t have the same social conscious in the community [as home owners].’’

When I’ve got a free few hours, I like to .....

Sail, I sail a Laser here in the Hokianga and a Lidgard 42ft in the Bay of Islands.