Standing For: Hastings District Council
Mayor & Hastings/HN Ward
Voter Guide Profile: I’m 55, married with three adult children. A former Police Sergeant with 24 years of service, I’ve also spent a decade running two motels and have hands-on experience as a builder and seasonal dairy farmer. I bring real-world experience not political spin.
I served two terms as a councillor in Manawatu, where we kept rate rises under 3% by reducing consultant use, doing more in-house, and focusing on core services not vanity projects.
We need strong leadership to keep rate rises to inflation. I’ll restructure Council, improve service delivery, and shift loss-making operations like Splash Planet to charitable trusts.
Council must learn to live within its means like the rest of us.
No to political agendas like unelected 16-year-olds voting on Council, or incompetence like buying the AOG building for $1 million and selling it for $150,000. Yes to Roads, Pipes, and Cyclone Recovery.
Vote for Steve Gibson
Latest articles and press releases
- Steve Gibson – Māori land rates write-offs raise fairness concernsOfficial Information Requests New figures show that around 60% of all unpaid rates written off by council belong to Māori… Read more: Steve Gibson – Māori land rates write-offs raise fairness concerns
- Steve Gibson – Code of Conduct over reachSection 4 of Hastings District Council’s own Code of Conduct is deeply concerning. It contains provisions on “tino rangatiratanga,” “partnership,”… Read more: Steve Gibson – Code of Conduct over reach
- Steve Gibson, the innuendo candidate – Part 2
Hastings mayoral and council seat candidate Steve Gibson specialises in innuendo, as I reported here. His favourite slap at HDC has… Read more: Steve Gibson, the innuendo candidate – Part 2 - Steve Gibson – the innuendo candidateIn launching our Election Central coverage of HB’s local body elections, BayBuzz invited each candidate to publish on our website… Read more: Steve Gibson – the innuendo candidate
- Steve Gibson – No More Secrets: Candidate Calls for Forensic Review of Council SpendingDuring my door-to-door campaign across Hastings, numerous council insiders and residents have raised serious concerns about how our council spends… Read more: Steve Gibson – No More Secrets: Candidate Calls for Forensic Review of Council Spending
- Hastings mayoral candidates respond to BayBuzz questions
BayBuzz has received responses from four of the five candidates standing for mayor of Hastings. No response was received from Darrin… Read more: Hastings mayoral candidates respond to BayBuzz questions - Steve Gibson – BayBuzz Questions for Hastings District Council Candidates1. HDC has struggled over allocating land to housing/industrial development versus protecting productive soils in the district. Do you believe… Read more: Steve Gibson – BayBuzz Questions for Hastings District Council Candidates
- Candidates on Hastings libraries
If your organisation is engaging with local election candidates and you have ‘intel’ that might benefit voters, send it along… Read more: Candidates on Hastings libraries - Steve Gibson – Amalgamation Could Deliver A Stronger Future for Hawke’s BayMayoral candidate Steve Gibson says it’s time to seriously revisit the idea of amalgamating Hastings, Napier, Central Hawke’s Bay and… Read more: Steve Gibson – Amalgamation Could Deliver A Stronger Future for Hawke’s Bay
- Steve Gibson – Money grab or compliance?As soon as I mention capping rates, people jump to the conclusion that something must get cut. But there’s plenty… Read more: Steve Gibson – Money grab or compliance?
- Steve Gibson – Council pensioner housing – losing $500,000 a yearCouncil has just declared they are raising pensioner flat rents by 5.3%. I don’t have an issue with that increase… Read more: Steve Gibson – Council pensioner housing – losing $500,000 a year
- Steve Gibson – Bringing Rates Back to Inflation – A Smarter, Leaner CouncilHastings ratepayers are being crushed under ballooning debt and rates rises. Right now, every household is paying around $1,000 a… Read more: Steve Gibson – Bringing Rates Back to Inflation – A Smarter, Leaner Council
- Steve Gibson – Council Costs Drive Housing to Fertile Plains
Locals are being priced out of sensible housing solutions by sky high council fees and red tape which is pushing… Read more: Steve Gibson – Council Costs Drive Housing to Fertile Plains - Steve Gibson – Keeping rates rises to inflationDefinition of madness: Voting for Candidates who increased rates by 15% and expecting a different result.
- Steve Gibson – Media Release 3rd July 2025I fully acknowledge the immense challenge Cyclone Gabrielle placed on Hastings District Council and our wider region. But in times… Read more: Steve Gibson – Media Release 3rd July 2025
- Hastings mayoral candidate vows to cap rates
A second Hastings mayoral hopeful is already door-knocking, intending to visit as many residents in the region as possible. Steve… Read more: Hastings mayoral candidate vows to cap rates