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

Exceptions exist, but I believe shared education is key in compliance. Starting with harsh measures rarely benefits relationships or outcomes. Still, I have little tolerance for malice or repeated offenses.

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’?

Cyclone Gabrielle devastated our house, business, and orchards. Having grown up in a flood-prone area, we learned to live with such events.

In Hawke’s Bay, we lacked a plan B—our stopbanks weren’t designed or maintained for extreme events. We should prioritise restoring river channels and bridges to their intended flow capacity, determine which stopbanks can and should feasibly be raised, and allow rivers more room. Overland flows must also be included in our future flood resilience strategies and managed to minimise damage. Investment decisions should clearly weigh life and infrastructure, with transparent costs and the final say resting with ratepayers. We must strip back to our essential responsibilities—nothing more, nothing less—if we are to afford a truly safe future. Only through unwavering discipline and clear priorities can we deliver what the region needs most.

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

We just have had a very rainy day! The idea of selling Napier Port is new, and while it may make investment sense, the port is vital to our export sector. All options should be carefully considered, though I do not support doing nothing.

4. HBRC has committed about $3 million to investigating 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 construction or future operation of either dam?

To begin, I do not support allocating HBRC council ratepayer funds toward the construction or future operation of either dam. The guiding principle moving forward should be “User Pays and Governs.” It is well recognised that climate change will bring both wetter and drier conditions. Hawke’s Bay’s favourable climate and rich soils are fundamental to our primary industries, which would not thrive without reliable water sources; thus, I am in favour of water storage.

However, I acknowledge there are numerous ways to optimise available water through technological advancements, global water-sharing initiatives, re-use systems, and other innovative approaches. My support for the feasibility study of the Whanawhana water storage project was based on the understanding that achieving environmental water release is a lengthy process. In this time, alternative solutions may arise that are preferable to committing to a facility that could become a burden on our primary industries. It is important to note that there are multiple decision points throughout the water storage planning process, providing flexibility as we move forward.

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?

This work began as far back as 2012, when Twyford developed, in conjunction with HBRC, a globalisation of all their consents with HBRC. HBRC should be the enabler rather than the entity that does the work in this space. Water users are developing technology and strategies to assist this thinking. Some examples are: Good Irrigation Practice certification (GIP). Water users are developing thinking around good Irrigation practices being the vehicle to access water. Re-use of domestic and industrial water. Sharing of water through globalisation will reduce the overall use as has been proven in Twyford.

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

Adaptation is considered necessary to ensure the safety of people, land, and infrastructure. The economic impact of mitigation measures may affect the ability to fund adaptation efforts, and mitigation is anticipated to have limited effectiveness. In the upcoming term, HBRC will focus on flood protection, coastal hazards and water security. The affordability of such projects is a major factor in determining what HBRC can pursue. Drawing on global examples may help in designing and constructing cost-effective infrastructure with long-term resilience.

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

No, I do not. It is not democracy if one can choose which electoral roll to be on depending on who might stand.

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

Amalgamation is a discussion we need to have urgently. And yes, I am supportive of amalgamation.

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

This particular idea requires further consideration. I support councils being held to clear core business definitions and strict spending guidelines.