LOUISE PARSONS
Candidate for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council – Napier Constituency
“For the People. Not the Politics.”
Hawke’s Bay has been my home for over 50 years. I’m deeply connected to the Napier community; as a businesswoman, volunteer, advocate, and someone who’s never shied away from stepping up when things get tough.
For over 22 years, I successfully ran Dale Carnegie Training in the region, working with local businesses and leaders to grow confidence, resilience, and real-world results. I know how to manage budgets, lead people, and make tough decisions; all skills we urgently need on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
I’ve also spent a lifetime standing up for others. As a founding trustee of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, I worked hard for victims’ rights and to drive justice reform. That same sense of duty is what pushed me into action during Cyclone Gabrielle. I was out in flood-hit communities helping people directly. I organised public meetings to address looting and demand answers from both Police and Political Leaders who were downplaying the seriousness of the situation. For the past 2½ years, I’ve supported residents who felt abandoned, many who explain they feel the HBRC’s response was worse than the disaster itself.
That experience revealed a hard truth: too many people feel unheard, and too many decisions are made without public knowledge or Council accountability.
That’s why I’m running.
I’m not a politician, and I’m not joining a political alliance. I’m standing as an independent voice to bring strong leadership and common sense back into the Council chamber.
We need smart, not wasteful, spending.
We need better environmental strategies and outcomes, without strangling our region’s economy.
We need honest, transparent decision-making, not spin. If elected, I’ll work to:
- Prioritise flood protection, smarter water use, and climate resilience
- Rebuild public trust through real transparency and accountability
- Back practical environmental solutions grounded in science and economic reality
- Serve all of Hawke’s Bay, not just Napier. When the floods hit, I advocated (and still do) for all affected communities, not just the one I live in. I believe every councillor should act for the whole region, not just their own ward
- Be available, responsive, and always on the side of the people
This election matters.
The Regional Council makes decisions that directly affect your community, your property, your rates, and your future. But turnout is often low, and too few realise the power they have.
So, I’m asking you: make your vote count.
Vote for someone who has already shown up, spoken up, and followed through – long before campaign season began.
I’ll bring leadership, courage, and action – not excuses.
Because this region deserves better.
No Spin. Just Service. Vote Louise Parsons for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council – Napier Constituency
