Good balance between new and experienced councillors, Hastings Mayor says
The local government election in Hastings District has seen incumbent councillors who sought re-election, all win another term at the council table.
Results in Saturday’s local government elections are all still provisional.
With a number of high-profile councillors not standing and a change in the wards, including the introduction of the new three-seat Takitimu Māori ward, new faces were always going to be elected to the Hastings District Council.
Some results were decided before the final ballot was even cast, with Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst; Mōhaka Ward councillor Tania Kerr; and Heretaunga Ward councillors Alwyn Corban and Ann Redstone; all elected unopposed.
In contrast, the Hastings-Havelock North General Ward was hotly contested with 14 candidates vying for seven vacancies. This ward saw six incumbents victorious in their re-election bids.
Eileen Lawson led the charge with more than 6,000 votes, while fellow councillors Wendy Schollum, Malcolm Dixon, Kevin Watkins, Damon Harvey and Simon Nixon, are all back. The new face in this ward is local accountant and Hawke’s Bay historian Michael Fowler.
Fowler says he is "more relieved than anything" to have been voted in. He received the fourth-highest number of votes of the councillors vying for election in the Hastings-Havelock North ward at 5,592.
"I am very humbled and grateful to be given the opportunity to serve Hastings.
"I would like to think that because of my history people trusted me to tell their stories and I think from the accounting background, it will be a useful skill to have around the council as well."
Fowler, who will continue his work as a historian alongside being a councillor, says he is looking forward to the term ahead.
I'm working as part of a team led by Sandra Hazlehurst and Chief Executive Nigel Bickle with the staff, so I need to get my feet on the ground first and then progress from there."
In other results, first-timer Marcus Buddo beat former councillor John Roil to claim the Kahurānaki General Ward.
Buddo, who is on the younger side at 27-years-old, has been on the rural community board for the past three years, is "well-connected to the community" and has degrees in economics, politics and health science.
"I am very grateful to the people of my ward for electing me and putting their trust in me. It is no small thing."
He hopes to focus on roading, affordable housing, and ensuring the district is appealing to younger people.
Henry Heke, the General Manager of Māori Health at Health Hawke’s Bay, won the Flaxmere General Ward, which has been reduced from two seats to one, and sees the end of an era with long-time ward councillor Henare O’Keefe not seeking re-election.
In a historic moment, three new councillors will be representing the new Takitimu Māori Ward. They are former Hawke’s Bay DHB member Ana Apatu, schoolteacher Kellie Jessup and Renata Nepe.
While Apatu is "very humbled and thrilled" to have been voted in, she says now the "real work starts".
"Over the years, I've actually done quite a bit of work with Hastings District Council so when I got the phone call, I felt like I was coming back into the fold of a family really. I have had lots to do with the council and have lots of respect for the things that they do."
Like Fowler, Apatu says it is important they become familiar with strategies and policy, including the Long Term Plan and the investment strategies against that.
As Takitimu Māori councillors, Apatu admits there is a "bit to work through" given they have never had the ward before.
"I would like to see some across council connections, particularly with the other Māori members in Regional Council and how we can work across the region."
Hazlehurst, who was elected unopposed, says the new council has a "really good balance" between experienced senior councillors and new faces who will bring new energy and a different perspective.
“I want to make particular mention of our three Takitimu Māori councillors – having a Māori ward is a first for Hastings so these councillors are making history.”
"This is a really great result and I’m very excited to work with the team to continue the very exciting direction Hastings is on – making a positive difference for our people."
She says they have a lot to accomplish in the first 100 days including bringing the new councillors up to speed and continuing their work programme.
