1. CHB Council has just reviewed its spending plans for improving the district’s water infrastructure, deferring some projects considerably. Do you support this approach even if it delays important improvements?

I believe where we are heading with the reviewed strategy is right for the time we are
in. Our strategy remains clear: no quick fixes, but instead durable infrastructure and an intergenerational approach. Over the past nine years, we have bravely committed to understanding our three waters infrastructure, being transparent with our community about its failings, and clearly identifying the level of investment required. This deliberate strategy has kept us moving forward, despite droughts, COVID, cyclones, the ongoing shifts in Government policy, and the challenges of politics, to ensure we make decisions the next generation will thank us for. Now, as we face the added pressures of rising costs and dealing with the Government’s Local Water Done Well reforms, the next three years we need to set these entities up for success, I remain confident we will achieve good outcomes for our community. After all, it took 100 years of underinvestment to reach this point—so fixing it within 10 to 20 years is, by comparison, is not doing too bad.

2. Name 2-3 specific CHBDC projects, policies or spends over the past three years with which you personally disagree.

I personally did not support our council’s decision to join Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD). However, I recognise we are a democracy, and in this case, I was on the losing side of the decision. For me, the C4LD movement sent mixed messages to Government and ran counter to our own council’s strategy. For years, local government has been signalling to central government that the looming three waters infrastructure costs were becoming unaffordable for communities. Our own strategy, well before the reform process began, was to collaborate with our fellow Hawke’s Bay councils. It saddens me to think that C4LD may have contributed to the demise of what I believe was the right path: the previous Government’s Three Waters Reform. That model aimed to make three waters more affordable through harmonisation and
efficiencies, while also providing “Better Off” funding to enable communities like ours to invest in the things that make a place thrive—the nice-to-haves that sit alongside the must-haves.

3. Do you support construction of the ‘new’ Ruataniwha Dam? Do you believe Council should invest ratepayer funds in it?

I have always been a supporter of the Ruataniwha Water Storage project, it was one of the key reasons I first stood for local council. Where I believe CHB District Council should have focused its efforts was in formally consulting with our community. We needed to ask: what level of involvement and investment do you believe is appropriate for us? Should our role be as leaders, investors, advocates, beneficiaries, or should we step back entirely? By securing a clear mandate and direction from our community early on, we would have avoided the ongoing distractions and uncertainty that arise each time a decision around this project needs to be made. With a shared and agreed approach, we could be confident that the path we are taking truly reflects the will of our people.

4. CHB seems on its way to becoming Hawke’s Bay’s solar capital. Do you support that development?

There is currently lots of interest in solar but does the grid have the infrastructure to take all the power that solar generates? I don’t believe that to be so without massive investment – so in the meantime I wish govt would put better levers in place through national policy statements to protect the interest of community and most importantly those that live by these plants. With Resource management reform this may come but I am hoping its not too late – another huge issue for New Zealand and our community is forestry!

5. Do you believe councils’ rates should be ‘capped’ by legislation?

No – I believe councils should be provided with better funding and financing tools so
they can truly deliver on infrastructure, community outcomes, and the expectations placed on them.

6. Do you personally support retaining Māori seats at your council table?

Yes – for the 12 years I have served as an elected member of CHB District Council, we have had Māori representation at the table. Those in these roles read the same material I do, attend the same meetings, participate in the same discussions, and are remunerated in the same way. The key difference is that they have not been required to stand for election, front their constituents, or have their voting record publicly accountable. For CHBDC, I see the establishment of Māori wards as simply making what we have always had more transparent, accountable, and democratic. Most importantly, it ensures a vote that is both earned and recorded.

7. Does Hawke’s Bay need five councils, or do you support amalgamation, in any form?

Originally, I did vote in favour of amalgamation, but I have since changed my mind. I now believe there will always be a need for elected local leadership, people who can strongly advocate for their communities, influence policy, and direct strategy that delivers the infrastructure and outcomes our communities need. However CHB needs to be realistic we must do this alongside our regional partners and with our national body LGNZ, we are not Auckland who make the headlines with a single statement. In the absence of anything better, local councils are the vehicle that delivers this. I would be sad to see future generations lose the opportunity to experience and contribute through local government in the way I have. Serving has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, and the growth and learning it has given me has been invaluable.

8. Would you support Councils appointing an independent “Hawke’s Bay Auditor
General” to monitor councils’ spending and programme performance?

Councils are already the most audited and transparent government organisations you will find. For that reason, I do not support spending more money on additional auditing.