1. Do you believe HBRC is ‘tough enough’ in enforcing environmental
protections when challenging actions (or omissions) by other HB
councils and businesses?

Environmental protection cannot be compromised. HBRC has made progress
in policy and enforcement, but from the outside, a stronger and more
consistent approach is needed when holding councils and businesses to
account. That includes ensuring freshwater quality, wetland health, and air
emissions are safeguarded. Transparency, compliance monitoring, and public
reporting all matter. I stand for your local vote to strengthen environmental
accountability from within, not from the sidelines.

2. Current estimates put the cost of all feasible flood control options for
the region at around $600 million. How do you believe HBRC should
approach this huge challenge … how much is ‘safe enough’?

In higher-risk areas, protection may need to increase to one in five-hundred-
year standards. Cyclone Gabrielle proved that existing flood protection is not
enough. What is ‘safe enough’ must be based on risk, climate modelling, and
community voice. HBRC’s approach must blend engineering, Mātauranga
Māori, and local knowledge. Land use and catchment management are just
as important. We must invest wisely now to protect people and whenua long
term. I stand for your local vote to bring both urgency and balance to this
work.

3. To help reduce the ratepayer cost of such a significant potential scale of
flood protection, do you believe HBRC should consider selling down its
shares in Napier Port to invest instead in better-earning financial
assets?

Would central government sell its shares in Kiwi bank or Transpower for short-
term gain? Napier Port is more than a financial asset. It is a strategic
regional gateway that delivers stable dividends and supports environmental
funding. Any decision to sell must involve robust modelling, community
consultation, and clarity about what would be gained or lost. I stand for your
local vote to ensure long-term value is protected with evidence, not
assumption.

4. HBRC has committed about $3 million to investigate the feasibility of a
storage dam on a tributary of the Ngaruroro River. At the same time, an
effort is underway to revive construction of a ‘new’ Ruataniwha Dam in
CHB. Do you support either initiative? Would you support HBRC
Council putting ratepayer funds into the building or future operation of
either dam?

I understand HBRC’s feasibility assessment for Heretaunga storage is already
underway and scheduled through to 2026. It must be transparent, culturally
safe, and governed with care. Community trust and mana whenua
partnership are critical. The Ruataniwha proposal was halted due to concerns
over its legality, environmental impact, and cultural significance. Future water
storage must meet cultural, ecological, and economic standards. I stand for
your local vote to ensure water decisions are made with integrity and care for
future generations.

5. Do you believe HBRC is doing enough to develop potential reductions in
the region’s water demand? What possibilities of this sort do you see?

There is growing urgency. The Regional Water Assessment shows demand
may exceed supply by more than twenty per cent in the coming decades.
Smarter irrigation, leak detection, water metering, greywater reuse, and
community education must all play a role. Storage alone cannot solve our
water issues. I stand for your local vote to support solutions that value water
as a taonga and ensure fair use across the region.

6. Do you believe HBRC is doing too much or too little with respect to
adapting and/or mitigating climate change impacts in the region?

Climate change is already shaping how we live, grow food, and manage risk.
HBRC has a Climate Action Plan, but full integration into core council
strategies is still developing. Adaptation and mitigation need to be built into
infrastructure, land use, investment decisions, and partnerships with mana
whenua. I stand for your local vote to help make climate response a regular
part of every decision, not a separate conversation.

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

Yes. Māori seats reflect our country’s founding agreement and recognise that
true partnership must be built into the structure of our councils. These seats
bring valuable perspectives that come from deep cultural connections and
generations of lived experience. That is one of the reasons I am standing for
your local vote to strengthen inclusive representation and partnership.

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

We have water security, flood resilience, high rates, and many other pressing
issues to address right now. However, if our communities call for change,
then my financial, governance, and business experience will be needed at the
table to ensure transparent budgeting, strong community input, and a clear
plan for democratic decision-making. That is one of the reasons I am
standing for your local vote to bring thoughtful, inclusive, and fiscally
responsible leadership to the table.

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

I have been in governance and director leadership roles for twenty-seven
years and would never answer a question like this without facts. This kōrero
belongs with the region’s newly elected mayors, chairs, councilors, and chief
executives. Oversight already exists through the Auditor General, Audit New
Zealand, and internal Risk and Audit Committees. None of their reports calls
for a separate regional auditor. I stand for your local vote to ensure decisions
are based on evidence, not assumptions. A seat at the table means acting on
facts, not guessing.

Vote for Conrad Waitoa for Heretaunga Hastings, Hawke’s Bay Regional
Council
Your vote means I will represent the future of the place we call home with
courage, integrity, and dedication.