1. NCC plans to spend $701 million through to 2034 to improve water infrastructure. Is this appropriate and who should pay?
I support Napier having water infrastructure that meets national standards and delivers water quality that meets health guidelines. It is necessary for Council to invest for improvement and set programmes to influence priorities for the new water entity. Like any utility the users connected to water infrastructure should pay volumetrically for the network they benefit from.
2. Does Napier need a new aquatic centre? If so, where?
Since 2019 Napier rates payers have been forced to budget and spend up to $8 Million on keeping the aging Onekawa Aquatic Centre operating, that’s nearly a quarter of the 2019 tendered price for a whole new facility! An extensive study identified the Prebensen Drive site as the most appropriate at that time, circumstances have changed since. There is a need to reevaluate what aquatic facilities Napier needs and that analysis should provide current criteria for site evaluation.
3. Do you support NCC continuing to dump partially treated wastewater into Hawke Bay?
Napier needs to develop and implement actions to improve the quality of waste and storm water discharges into Hawke Bay.
4. Name 2-3 specific NCC projects, policies or spends over the past three years with which you personally disagree.
The War memorial needed to be reinstated, but I disagree with the nearly 50% overspend ($1.2M) for a political campaign promise. I agree that we need a better Library and staff accommodation but disagree with the $110M commitment commencing during a period when many ratepayers are struggling. Hopefully the current Rating Policy review well bring fairness and equality that the last review failed to do. I’m very disappointed that in 24/25 we justified increased labour costs by 11.75% (within a 23.7% rates increase) only to turn around in 25/26 to slash budgets and cut jobs in an election year, where’s the long term strategy in that?
5. Do you support building homes in these two areas – Riverbend Road, Ahuriri Station?
Yes, Napier needs more homes, if developers are prepared to design and build hazard resilient suburbs in Riverbend Road and Ahuriri Station let them get on with it.
6. Should residential water metering be introduced in Napier?
Yes, the current non metred water network is inequitable. Elsewhere consumers who receive a metered water bill quickly learn to reduce wastage to save money.
7. Do you personally support retaining Māori seats at your council table?
Any candidate who can demonstrate they have the governance skills and capability to contest and win an open election will have a seat at the council table.
8. Do you believe councils’ rates should be ‘capped’ by legislation?
Council rates should be capped by common sense and good strategic governance. For Councils that have very low per capita rates, like Napier, there are considerable risks associated with imposing capping legislation.
9. Does Hawke’s Bay need five councils, or do you support amalgamation, in any form?
If the Government was serious about the cost and imposition of Local Government, they would abolish regional councils immediately.
10. Would you support Councils appointing an independent “Hawke’s Bay Auditor General” to monitor councils’ spending and programme performance?
To reduce the cost of Audit, Councils need the ability to choose or competitively tender the contract for their Audit services.
