Local body elections 2019: Whangārei, Kaipara and Far North council candidates revealed
Friday, 16 August 2019
Some Northland candidates are guaranteed a council seat while others face dozens of opponents in this year's local body elections.
The feast and famine sees thin pickings in Kaipara but a plethora of candidates in the Far North, and a mixed bag in Whangārei.
Here are the candidates for the three Northland district councils according to preliminary nominations:
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* Kaipara picks farmer and businessman Dr Jason Smith as new mayor**
WHANGĀREI DISTRICT COUNCIL
Whangārei is Northland's only city and largest centre, so it makes sense that the district council has attracted some of the highest numbers of nominations.
Incumbent Mayor Sheryl Mai has put her hat in the ring for a third term, pledging to continue to build a community that is economically strong, vibrant, diverse, creative and healthy.
She is challenged by property lawyer Tony Savage who is promoting a transparent council which backs businesses and has a strong relationship with local government.
Rural roading advocate Alex Wright rounds out the list, advocating for road sealing and more action on traffic congestion.
The Bream Bay Ward candidates are Ken Couper, incumbent Shelley Deeming, Peter Grant, Olli Krollmann, Tom (Tamihana) Paki and Iain Robertson, who will compete for two seats.
In Denby, Gavin Benney, incumbents Crichton Christie and Tricia Cutforth, along with Jayne Golightly and Shaquille Shortland, competing for three seats.
Candidates in the Hikurangi-Coastal Ward are Shelley Anderson, incumbent Greg Martin, Marie Minhinnick, incumbent Anna Murphy, Daron Turner and Alex Wright. The six candidates will fight for two seats.
There are just two candidates for Mangakahia-Maungatapere, Sid Diamond and Simon Reid, who will contest one seat.
In Okara, Albie Barr, Steve Capper, incumbent Vince Cocurullo, Nicholas Hunter Connop, Tony Gill, incumbent Sue Glen, Fiona Green, current Bream Bay councillor Phil Halse, Glen McMillan, Melanie Payne, Carol Peters, Hayley Read and Tim Robinson have all put their hands up.
The 13 candidates will compete for four seats.
In Whangārei Heads, Dave Blackley, incumbent Greg Innes and Don Lake will compete for one seat.
KAIPARA DISTRICT COUNCIL
Democracy is a bit of a struggle in the small Kaipara District and this year's election is no exception.
There are just two candidates for the mayoral position and the two candidates in the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward will be elected unopposed.
Kaipara's debt-laden council was sacked in 2012 and run by commissioners for four years. The elected mayor Greg Gent then quit in 2017 after just one year in the job, citing 'personal reasons'.
Dr Jason Smith, who won the mayoral seat in a by-election in early 2018, has once again put his hand up for the job.
Smith has a background in beef and sheep farming, as well as business development.
His only challenger is Kaipara activist Moemoea Mohowhenua. He is believed to be known as Penehamine Nathan or Benjamin Nathan, who infamously smashed the America's Cup in 1997.
For the council seats, incumbent Jonathan Larsen and current deputy mayor Peter Wethey will be elected unopposed in the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward.
In Dargaville, incumbent Karen Joyce-Paki, Brian McEwing, Ash Nayyar, Marnie Stewart, Jay Tane and Erin Wilson-Collins will compete for two seats.
Incumbent Victoria del la Varis-Woodcock, Joesephine Nathan and David Wills will fight for two seats in the West Coast–Central Ward.
In Otamatea Ward, incumbent Anna Curnow, Craig Jepson, Wayne Linton, Ian Miller and Mark Vincent will compete for two seats.
FAR NORTH DISTRICT COUNCIL
The Far North is a district with plenty of spread in both geography and character, and has attracted a healthy number of candidates.
Incumbent Far North mayor John Carter, a former National MP who has held the seat since 2013, looks to be on shaky ground with nine challengers to the top job.
The candidates include John Bassett, from Diggers Valley near Kaitaia, traditional Māori games exponent Harko Brown, Kerikeri writer Peter Gill, reformed gang leader and leader of Destiny Church's Man Up programme, Jay Hepi, health promoter and outspoken current councillor Dave 'Bear' Hookway, long-time Kaitaia businessman Monty Knight, businessman and commercial landlord John Levers, Kaikohe Anglican minister Kuini Matene and incumbent deputy mayor Tania McInnes.
The council positions are equally crowded with 14 candidates competing for four seats in the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward.
They are Harko Brown, David Clendon, Rodger Corbin, incumbent Ann Court, Peter Gill, Ruth Heta, Chris Joseph, Hone Mihaka, Frank Owen, Maxine Shortland, Rachel Smith, Mike Stevens, incumbent Kelly Stratford, and Steve Wilce.
Twelve candidates will fight for two seats in the Kaikohe-Hokianga Ward: Rawhiti Erstich Coles, Jay Hepi, Babe Kapa, incumbent Sally Macauley, Kuini Matene, Lily Rawson, Marara Rogers, Te Arani Angeline Te Haara, Moko Tepania, Louis Toorenburg, incumbent John Vujcich and Rhonda Zielinski.
Singer Jason Kerrison, who now lives in Kaitaia, is an interesting addition to the competition in Te Hiku Ward, where a total of 15 candidates will compete for three seats.
The other candidates are Ian Bamber, former Green MP Sue Bradford, Jaqi Brown, David Collard, incumbent Felicity Foy, Lillian Karaka, Barry Murray, Mark Osborne, Lyle Painting, incumbent Mate Radich, JT Tahana, Niki Tauhara, Hazely Windelborn and Sacha Kearney Yanke.