Napier City Councillor Sally Crown has announced she will stand for re-election this October, this time for the Ahuriri Ward, following recent boundary changes and being a resident and ratepayer of the ward.
“Ahuriri is home for me. With the new boundaries, the ward includes some of Napier’s most diverse areas – coastal communities, residential neighbourhoods, and the CBD. It’s a great reflection of our entire city,” says Crown.
Crown was first elected in 2019 and brings six years of experience and proven leadership inside and outside of Council. She currently chairs the Prosperous Napier Committee, serves on governance groups focused on urban development, risk, finance and economic growth, and is the Council’s appointee to Napier City Business Inc.
The current Chairperson of the Hawke’s Bay Hawks basketball franchise, she is a local business owner with considerable governance experience across commercial and community entities.
“Local government is where the rubber hits the road. Water, roads, parks, stormwater, waste – these are core services that must be well managed. People need to know their rates are being spent wisely and that we’re planning ahead with care and common sense.”
Known for her pragmatic and future-focused approach, Crown has supported city-shaping work across council, including significant water infrastructure investment, establishment of a long-term investment fund, public developments to catalyse private investment, community led initiatives such resident association projects and collaboration with other organisations to maximise impact for the community.
She also supports smarter rating policies recognising that until local government’s current funding model is better diversified by central government contribution, residents need Councils to adopt different rating approaches.
“I’ve been exploring the rates affordability model in South Australia, which pegs rate increases to inflation unless councils make a clear case to go above it. It’s a more predictable approach that can help build trust and give ratepayers further oversight. In the current economic environment we have to consider any and all tools available.”
Crown says her move to stand in the Ahuriri Ward follows careful consideration.
“There are great candidates stepping up in the other part of my current ward. I want to continue serving Napier where I can be most effective, both in representing my community and contributing to a strong, balanced Council table.”
With a background in business and strategic communications, Crown says she’s standing again to support Napier to fulfill its potential- both people and place.
“We’re facing some big calls – infrastructure, resilience, climate, and affordability. I’m here to do the work, bring people together, and help us make smart, long-term decisions.”
