1. HDC has struggled over allocating land to housing/industrial development versus protecting productive soils in the district. Do you believe the right decisions are being made?

Hastings was established on very fertile land, some of the best in the world, and ever since housing/industrial development and protection of productive land have clashed head on. They are not easy to reconcile. In the past the right decisions have not been made. Our productive land is a finite resource and production off the land drives our economy, food production, exports and our jobs. We have too easily covered it in concrete and it is gone forever. The recent Future Development Strategy gives me heart that the value of our productive land is being recognized and alternative locations for development need to be found including medium density housing – going up rather than out.

2. HDC plans to spend $80 million over the next three years to improve water infrastructure? Is this appropriate and who should pay?

This expenditure is appropriate as it will replace aged infrastructure and unlock significant growth including both greenfield sites and medium density housing in the urban area. The capital expenditure will be funded from various sources including development contributions, co-funding from central government and general rates.

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

There have been a few proposals/recommendations that I have not agreed with, but I have generally been happy with how they have been resolved. One instance I did not agree with was giving youth Councilors, appointed to standing committees, a vote and remuneration. They were appointed, not elected and not accountable to the ratepayer, and could/would be making decisions of great significance to Council, including expenditure. This was a step up from sitting on a committee, participating in the debate and voting on a recommendation to go to Council for a decision.

4. Should residential water metering be introduced in the Hastings District?

Water meters in Hastings would be beneficial. As a district we are short of water and our water use per household is higher than it should be, it is high in comparison to other cities both in New Zealand and overseas. Water meters are proven to result in efficient water use. The big question is the cost of introduction and whether it is viable.

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

What is the detail of this proposal?
Is it all rates?, including targeted rates for response to crises (such as Cyclone Gabrielle or the Havelock North Water crisis) or new and special projects that have community support through consultation (such as a Coastal Hazards response)?
If so, then I don’t think rates should be capped by legislation. That would mean Council (and the community) couldn’t hold the line. If it is capping rates, at a workable level, for Business as Usual, then OK.

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

I personally support keeping Maori Wards. They ensure better representation of our community at the Council table. They are democratic, it is representation through election, it is still one person one vote and each Councillor, whether in a general ward or maori ward, represents the same number of people (+/- 10%).

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

There are benefits of working regionally and much of Council work is already done through regional collaboration. I would support amalgamation provided the voice of distinct communities of interest were represented (perhaps through a review and continuation of ward representation).

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

I don’t think an independent auditor is required. HDC’s current committees such as Risk and Assurance, Performance and Monitoring, and the Mayor’s Financial Advisory committee should be monitoring our Council’s spending and programme performance.