In Auckland, after an extremely turbulent start highlighted by the shambolic response to the Anniversary Day floods in January 2023, Mayor Wayne Brown looks like being re-elected. Following the damaging Cyclone Gabrielle, which followed a month after the Anniversary Floods, the pressure on Mr Brown, his Deputy Desley Simpson and the Auckland Council was understandably immense.
However, the civil engineer, appears to have a plan for the city. By mid 2024, his Council had approved its new 10 year plan by 20 votes to 1. He had managed to get the council shares in Auckland Airport ready for transfer, with the money coming from it helping with infrastructure and services. He managed to keep Auckland rate rises to single digits for 2024-2026. If Mr Brown is successful in defending the Mayoralty, he will have pulled off a significant achievement, unlikely in 2023.
In Wellington, with incumbent Mayor Tory Whanau not standing after being basically bullied out of a job by people who could not handle a successful Maori woman, former Labour Leader Andrew Little is leading a strong but predictable campaign. Unfortunately he is being challenged by a dirty Better Wellington campaign that has involved Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung belittling Ms Whanau, as she has struggled to get on top of Wellington’s numerous infrastructure problems.
Two unknowns, one belonging to a joke party called Aotearoa Silly Hats, and another affiliated with Pennywise Rewilding Clown, seem unlikely to be serious opposition.
Christchurch is one city where it looks like a genuine battle is arising. Councillor Sara Templeton of the left-leaning faction is standing against incumbent centre-right candidate Phil Mauger. Mr Mauger, who has his hands full with ensuring the completion of the Te Kaha Stadium, calming those put off by huge roadwork projects running months behind schedule and interfering with daily routines, is also trying – like all councils in New Zealand – to balance the rates bill that they hand down to ratepayers.
As a Christchurch resident I am torn. Whilst I would prefer Ms Templeton to win, she is a proponent of the cycle way projects that are strangling key suburban cross roads, such as Aorangi Road. Mr Mauger and the centre-right wish to end or severely check the cycle way obsession of the Christchurch City Council, but I am concerned that not enough will be done to push alternatives such as buses.
Invercargill is another city with a potential change on the horizon. The controversial Mayor of that city Nobby Clark was going to stand for a second term as Mayor, but has been overshadowed by a stroke that initially left him unable to stand. In 2023 a heart attack caused him to have significant time off work. Two candidates named Tom Campbell and Tom Morton are contesting the mayoralty at the time of writing this.
In terms of Regional Council campaigns, the gloom of an all too familiar threat from right-wing politicians has arisen again. Local Government Minister has warned that Regional Councils might be abolished by the Government, as it pursues a strongly anti-environment/pro-business agenda that includes abolishing the Resource Management Act 1991. As Regional Councils have the difficult task of balancing their environmental responsibilities with enabling economic growth, this is raising significant concerns about where New Zealand is headed.
District Councils have had a colourful three years. Controversies around racism, job cuts at Southland Regional Council, amalgamations and arguments over the central governments changes to speed limitson on roads are just a minor glimpse into challenges facing district councils around New Zealand.
In the far north, Kaipara District Council has ended its relationship with the local iwi, which has seen a court case be triggered by Ngati Whatua. This happened despite warnings that it could set back iwi/local government relations, increase costs that would be passed on and erode trust. Craig Jepson, the Mayor of Kaipara District Council is standing for Mayor at the 2025 election, but will contest for Councillor in his ward.
In the far south, Ben Bell had a rocky start against an ingrained old-boys club that was not used to the idea of a first term elected official becoming Mayor. A confidence vote was held to determine Mr Bell’s future in mid 2023, which he survived. The then Minister of Local Government Kieran McAnulty was asked to intervene, but said he would only do so if the council proved incapable of carrying out its functions. Mr Bell is standing in the 2025 election for Mayor.
More recently Waimakariri District Council has unlocked land for 17,000 homes across the next 30 years. It does so near rivers whose floodplains were active in the last 80 years. Although towns like Rangiora and Kaiapoi need room to develop, the sprawl that is being enabled by resets of local planning laws and pressure from developers, raises some serious questions about who will be responsible when these properties invariably flood?
Leftist Kiwi Writes 