Video: A passion for governance has led Havelock North local to stand in Hastings District Council by-election
Brendan Grant, an asset manager, says that a passion for governance has led him to stand in a Hastings District Council by-election.
A wide variety of candidates have stepped forward to contest two by-elections for vacant seats on the Hastings District Council.
The by-elections, expected to cost ratepayers more than $50,000, were triggered when incumbent Renata Nepe resigned from his Takitimu Māori Ward to take up a fulltime job, and long-term councillor Ann Redstone stepped away from her Heretaunga Ward seat for health reasons. Grant is up against six other candidates for the Heretaunga Ward seat - Hana Montaperto-Hendry, Melanie Petrowski, Shona Brewer, Tāwhana Chadwick, Sarah Greening-Smith and Geoff Downer.
In an interview with Hawke’s Bay App, Grant says that he would love to represent the community and that he believes that he has some skills that would be of benefit.
“Having an asset management background means we assess asset conditions, we look at the risks using science and data, and we determine where to invest capital and maintenance, accordingly, managing expenses. And I think we're moving into tight times with high inflation, high interest rates and there's a lot of council debt.”
Asked who he was working for currently, Grant said he was employed by a company but when pressed on who the company was, he said: “I would rather keep that quiet, if it's okay.”
Grant says that one of the dilemmas the Council is facing at present is maintaining a high level of service with high level of debt.
“Another one is we have high living costs and the potential for high rate increases. We have the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery. We need to be consistent, fair and sustainable for future events and affordable housing while protecting our productive land.”
“Those are the key things that I think we're facing and I'd like to be around the table and represent our community on.”
Currently the Hastings District Council has debt of $400m and is paying $16m in interest repayments per annum.
Grant says that with rate increases, that's only going to increase potentially.
“I think it's all becoming a little bit tough. Families are already struggling and these rate rises are just not affordable for a lot of people. So we're going to have to tighten our belt.”
“I guess I've had experience where we talk about in the industry reducing cost without burning the furniture. And I think humans, when challenged in the right way, can come up with creative ways to do more with less. We just need to change our focus and no more discretionary spending. We've just got to focus on the needs.”
Asked how he would rate the Hastings District Council on how it had done during COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, Grant said: “Everybody's got their strengths. I think we've come from a time with COVID and Cyclone Gabrielle.”
“Now we're entering a time where we need to tighten our belt, so we need to adjust to the situation accordingly. And I guess with this opportunity with the by-election, we can make sure we've got the right people sitting around the table to make the right decisions going forward.”
Grant says that, if elected, he is keen to be involved in the areas where he has experience.
“So I guess cost management, how can we reduce costs? I think that's going to be a very consuming topic going forward.”
Asked why people should vote for him, Grant said: “Well, I guess I just want people to give me a chance. People say they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. So would people give me a year to show them how much I care for this region and for their future?”
The Hastings District Council says that voting papers will be delivered to letterboxes of eligible voters (Heretaunga and Takitimu wards) around May 2. Voting papers must be returned by noon on the closing date: May 24
More information on the process, including candidate information and nomination forms, will be made available before February 29 here: hastingsdc.govt.nz/our-council/elections.
Hawke’s Bay App is approaching all candidates for interviews before the elections.
Andrew Austin – Editor, Hawke’s Bay App – andrew@hbapp.co.nz
Watch the accompanying video to see the full interview with Brendan Grant.
