BayBuzz received responses from each of Napier’s mayoral candidates — Richard McGrath, Nigel Simpson and Kirsten Wise. As incumbents, each is experienced in the ‘ways’ of councils and through their council service share responsibility for NCC’s record, however that is perceived.

Here are the ten questions we asked:

  1. NCC plans to spend $701 million through to 2034 to improve water infrastructure. Is this appropriate and who should pay?
  2. Does Napier need a new aquatic centre? If so, where?
  3. Do you support NCC continuing to dump partially treated wastewater into Hawke Bay?
  4. Name 2-3 specific NCC projects, policies or spends over the past three years with which you personally disagree.
  5. Do you support building homes in these two areas – Riverbend Road, Ahuriri Station?
  6. Should residential water metering be introduced in Napier?
  7. Do you personally support retaining Māori seats at your council table?
  8. Do you believe councils’ rates should be ‘capped’ by legislation?
  9. Does Hawke’s Bay need five councils, or do you support amalgamation, in any form?
  10. Would you support Councils appointing an independent “Hawke’s Bay Auditor General” to monitor councils’ spending and programme performance?

The candidates’ full responses are reported in this PDF, grouped by question so you can readily compare the candidates. 

Each candidate also has a ‘page’ in the NCC section of Election Central on the BayBuzz website, so you can find each person’s complete response there as well. 

To preview some differences amongst these candidates:

  1. All are reconciled to the reality of big spending ahead for Napier’s water infrastructure.
  2. All are prepared to spend on aquatic facilities, but only McGrath prepared to pick a location — Onekawa.
  3. All are wedded, for now, to Napier’s current wastewater discharges into Hawke Bay; Wise doesn’t believe Napier has any alternative.
  4. Not surprisingly, McGrath and Simpson identify specific projects that they disapprove of … details in their full responses.
  5. All duck council responsibility for any development of flood-vulnerable Riverbend Road and Ahuriri Station … if the proponents can make it through the consenting process, fine.
  6. Wise and Simpson support water metering; McGrath is more dubious.
  7. Only Wise expresses personal support for Maori wards. McGrath and Simpson give the ‘It’s the people’s choice’ evasive response.
  8. No champion of legislated rates capping in this group.
  9. No enthusiasm for amalgamation, although Simpson happy to abolish the Regional Council.
  10. Wise cites potential ‘watchdog’ benefits of an independent ‘HB Auditor General’.
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10 Comments

    1. Kirsten Wise is my choice. A steady hand, good progress with water infrastructure, the library, community activities and services.

    2. I would say McGrath would be the only person I’d vote for less than Wise
      These pair are really do nothing and do less
      We have a dreadful candidate selection here in Napier ,guess it’s a poisoned chalice

  2. Kirsten Wise justified the over the top spending in recent times on non-corr areas that’s resulted in hundreds of millions in loans as being ok because the loans are “intergenerational”. The same mayor who backed spending more than $1m in ratepayers money on a new floating waka pontoon when said waka already had a berth (albeit less glamorous) in Ahurihi. Time for a leader that is laser focused on essentials not the bling projects.

  3. Agree Rita and Glenn. Leonie, as per your Facebook posts you are ‘a brown Pakeha’, so can’t help thinking you are living in lala land, but happy for your opinion to be published as we live in a democratic society (for now).
    Reasons to vote for change, the current Mayor has voted for:
    – FDS – building on fertile land and flood-prone land (lessons learnt from Cyclone Gabrielle and previous weather events – nada)
    – Better of funding for Cyclone Gabrielle given to go towards a waka berth – Waka Waka! No surprises Chad and the Mana Ahuriri team, multi millionaires had a hand in this
    – Ahuriri Regional Park – another iwi triumph close to the Domain Road land that will likely be squatted on until claimed
    – A multi million dollar Council office/library to house the needy Council
    – Money robbed from the rate payer to pay Hawkes Bay Tourism salaries but ‘they don’t have enough’ to put on annual events
    – $4 million for a refurbished Art Deco Trust building at the wrong end of town
    – Water meters planned so we can all pay more for the chlorinated filth coming out of our taps and the admin for the privilege
    – Basic infrastructure in ruin due to poor maintenance and poor workmanship, she’ll be right mate doesn’t cut it when the pipes leak for weeks/months or the potholes are filled in haphazardly and redone over and over instead of being done right the first time, who pays for this? The ratepayer
    – The poorest score on their annual survey yet in all areas – Well done
    Vote well this year people, be Wise and don’t vote Wise

  4. Napier needs a Mayor who can represent our city and its communities in a positive way. Kirsten Wise is the obvious choice for that. I’m still hoping for a more accessible city for disabled people (which means that it would be safer for everyone).

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