1. Has HDC made the right decisions on land allocation between housing/industry and productive soils?
No. Hastings District has allowed expansion into some of our most productive soils, a shortsighted and unsustainable approach. In the Mohaka Ward and across our district, smarter options exist. Growth should be directed to areas where infrastructure already exists, reducing costs for ratepayers and avoiding unnecessary loss of prime land.
- Prioritise development in infrastructure-ready areas. Support hill-country and less fertile land development, which can deliver housing with minimal impact on food production.
- Expert reports confirm these hillside areas could safely accommodate around 100 new sections roughly a year’s housing supply without compromising the Heretaunga Plains.
- In rural areas, housing can often use its own water supply, onsite wastewater
systems, and renewable energy solutions such as solar or wind reducing the need for expensive council infrastructure.
We must protect our best soils, focus on cost-efficient infrastructure, and build where it’s smart, safe, and sustainable. That’s the CARE approach.
2. HDC plans to spend $80 million on water infrastructure over three years. Is this
appropriate, and who should pay?
As a potential councillor, I would have no idea what 80m will buy, whether this is necessary or not, I would need months of research to give an intelligent answer to this. Ratepayers responsible for paying for all city water supply.
3. Name 2–3 HDC projects, policies, or spends you personally disagree with:
Overly expensive traffic management – High spending on cones, signage, and compliance, which could be reduced through smarter project management. Expansion onto highly productive soils – Allowing residential and industrial development on the Heretaunga Plains rather than prioritising less fertile or already-serviced land. Splash Planet re-opening without a sustainable business model – Continuing to fund a loss-making attraction without a clear break-even or profit plan.
4. Should residential water metering be introduced in Hastings?
Yes, if it’s done transparently and fairly.
5. Should councils’ rates be capped by legislation?
No, as every single council in NZ will have different challenges that sometimes will require huge expenditure and sometimes will be able to make huge savings. Councillors must be fiscally responsible and not look for ways to spend money that is not necessary.
6. Do you personally support retaining Māori seats at your council table?
No, the Māori are quite capable of representing wards within the Hastings District, which I believe will represent them fairly.
7. Does Hawke’s Bay need five councils, or do you support amalgamation in any
form?
No, I was very disappointed when the amalgamation of Hastings and Napier did not
succeed, as I believed it was a win-win for the province. Probably, complete amalgamation should be in our future.
8. Would you support appointing an independent “Hawke’s Bay Auditor General”?
No, just another layer of bureaucracy
