Candidates told to create a culture of getting things done

Saturday, 20 September 2025

An apology from regional councillor Peter Scott to his constituents for letting them down after he resigned as chairperson over a speeding saga was the final word from those seeking election at the first of Timaru’s meet the candidates events on Wednesday.

Scott spoke about the mix of the regional council following an earlier discussion on council spending, and said there were a lot of councillors who vote for the nice-to-haves, and said things may have panned out better for South Cantabrians had he not let them down.

“I let you down by speeding, I really do apologise for that. I think we would be in a different place if I didn’t let you down,” Scott said.

Scott’s apology rounded out a more than three-hour long meeting run by Federated Farmers South Canterbury, which saw Timaru District Council and Environment Canterbury candidates speak about why they were standing before answering three pre-supplied questions.

Host and Federated Farmers branch chairperson Greg Anderson thanked the crowd of about 70 for turning out, candidates for standing and urged constituents to vote.

“This is what democracy is all about, especially local democracy, because without engagement… we’re a poorer country.”

Anderson also had some advice for candidates who found themselves elected and said they would hear from constituents for two reasons - the cost of rates, and those who want something done.

“It’s important as councillors that you create a culture that you get things done, that’s what New Zealand was founded on… there will be rules that the council staff, or councillors have to abide by, and that’s just a fact of life, but we do find ways to bend rules and make it work for those people.

“And that’s how we build good culture.’’

RMA reform, rates increases, council spending, water charges, rates caps, the future of regional councils, TDC’s controversial Theatre Royal, Aorangi Stadium and Strathallan Corner redevelopment projects and the district’s differential rates were some of the topics canvassed.

There were lighter moments, heated questions, candidates who pointed the finger of blame at previous councils and central government decision-making, as those standing made their way through pre-determined questions and took others from the floor.

TDC candidates Stu Piddington, Jason McDouall, Michelle Pye and Charles Scarsbrook put in apologies, with the first three sending in answers to the three questions.

Timaru mayoralty candidates were asked what they saw as the greatest strengths of the district and its biggest threats.

Incumbent Nigel Bowen credited previous councils with creating a perfect storm having committed to very low capital expenditure and warned if the council did not continue to invest it would find itself in the same position as Wellington - referencing the infrastructure issues faced by the capital city.

Bowen told the crowd any work on Timaru’s rates differential would be the single biggest decision of the next triennium, and there would be winners and losers, and it was about finding what was fair.

He said the district was underfunded by central government and getting an equitable share of roading funding was a priority. He saw Timaru’s central South Island location and diverse economy as strengths, and central government reform as the greatest threat.

Piddington, whose responses were read by Anderson, also cited the central location of Timaru, its people and their passion as strengths and ageing infrastructure and business closures as threats.

He said Timaru should take advantage of Rangitata MP James Meager’s position as Minister of South Island, and called for clear decisive thinking and communication from council. He said it was important to ensure the chief executive and staff did what the council wanted, rather than the “tail wagging the dog”.

Peter Bennett, who is standing for mayor and council, described himself as a voice for youth, the rural sector and as someone who would push back against “red tape”.

He said Timaru’s strengths lay in its agricultural sector, food manufacturing, transport industry, port and outlying towns Temuka, Pleasant Point and Geraldine.

He saw the greatest threats as weather-related risks of flooding, strong winds, and a lack of preparedness for climate change and said water systems and supply needed to be better managed.

The sole question for the mayoral candidates from the floor, over whether the $1.6 million upgrade of Strathallan Cnr was “unnecessary’’ spending, was directed at Nigel Bowen.

Bowen said the project was consulted on and was what the community wanted, adding it was supported by $300,000 of central government funding.

Council candidates were asked if the council had gone too far outside its core responsibilities, their thoughts on roading, and how to attract new business and breathe life into Timaru’s CBD.

First up was four-term councillor Peter Burt who dedicated a good chunk of his time to explaining the role of a councillor, and listing his achievements and contributions.

Burt also shared his views on the importance of candidates being in it for the community, rather than for personal gain saying there was no place for those with a prior agenda.

“The idea of a councillor sitting here with an agenda on anything other than to serve the community that we are here to serve is detrimental,’’ he said.

“And I’ve seen a number of those in my time of service, agendas that are there for their own benefit, agendas to forward their own image, and their own profile, instead of being collaborative.’’

Asked, by The Timaru Herald, whether he believed any candidates standing had an agenda, and if he was willing to identify them and back that up, Burt looked along the table of candidates and said he did not see anyone with an agenda.

“I know that there have been people with agendas. And you’re looking for a soundbite, like those particular members, and I’m not going to give you that soundbite.’’

He said one of the things the council should be focussed on was attracting good people to the community by providing core services.

Bennett, addressing the crowd as a council candidate, said rates were out of hand and he wanted to ensure “no more ripping off the ratepayer”.

There were lighter moments, and Ian Hanley breaking into song at the end of his speech might just have seen his name put forward, unofficially, to lead the council waiata a role held by outgoing three-term councillor Sally Parker.

Hanley spoke of financial strains on ratepayers and said a discussion at mayoral forum level over affordability was required with likely water costs increases ahead.

His ideas included a 24-hour work schedule to replace a culvert on SH1, monthly closure of Stafford St to encourage pedestrians and a moratorium on rates for a year on new builds to help encourage new residents.

Speaking immediately after, Graeme Wilson said Hanley’s was a hard act to follow but listed his extensive business and governance experience and said he had been attending council meetings regularly to learn what was being discussed and if it was a job for him.

Wilson said council needed to be prudent and tighten spending and reduce red tape.

Farmer Stacey Scott said council should operate in much the same way a farm was run, planning ahead, budgeting and preparing for tough times.

Scott said council should focus on its core essentials of water, rubbish and roading and said clear communication was important so people had a better understanding of issues.

She wanted council to work with businesses to create a more vibrant CBD and suggested ringfencing rates income from CBD properties to invest back into the area.

Piddington, whose responses were again read by Anderson, said council had stepped too far outside its core role and rigorous business plans were needed.

He identified the district’s ageing bridges as a topic for discussion and said the struggling CBD was no different to any other regional centre and suggested more parking, increased residential options and fixing the slippery tiles as solutions.

The youngest of the candidates, Ethan Richardson, said he was standing because he knew of people who could not see a future for themselves in Timaru and he wanted it to be a place where everyone had a bright future.

Richardson suggested opening up land for housing development was critical to improving the district, and gave a promise he would work every day to make sure that future existed.

Introducing himself as “pretty much a nobody” Stu Jackson said he was the only person in the room who lived on Stafford St and shared a story of meeting a visitor who was in town on business and looking for somewhere to have a beer, to which he said he told him he would be “pushing it” to get a beer in Timaru at 8pm on a Tuesday.

Jackson labelled roading repairs as “crap” and questioned who was doing them. He did not believe the money should have been spent renovating the Theatre Royal and said he still wanted the “full story” on why the council had not taken up businessman Gary Rooney’s offer to do up the Majestic Theatre across the road.

He said he wanted to see an end to the council’s rates differential and commercial and industrial ratepayers should not be subsidising other ratepayers.

Introducing himself with a joke about growing his moustache so he would not be identified as Amish, Hadleigh Oudemans said he believed in a bottom up style of community service, rather than a top down style.

Oudemans said the council had gone too far beyond its core services at times, and its core responsibility was to provide water, roading, which provided a lifeline to rural communities, and a safe community.

He said families and businesses were under real financial pressure, and council must operate the same as its people meeting needs, not wants - assessing projects based on need and having greater oversight over spending.

Sange Malama, who arrived late after getting “a bit lost”, is the first Pasifika candidate to put her hand up for council, and said although it was all new to her she promised to keep learning.

Malama, who admitted to being nervous, said she didn’t know all the words such as ‘fiscal’ but she did know ‘hard work’ and said leadership was not about having all the answers.

She said public spending needed to reflect the needs of the people, and she preferred a collaborative approach rather than “pointing fingers”, saying the community didn’t always feel connected to the council.

“No one has all the answers but together we’ve got more than enough to build something better.’’

Before talking about his “apprenticeship’’ first term, incumbent Owen Jackson asked for a show of hands who had already voted, saying in many other areas meet the candidates events were held as soon as voting papers went out.

A quick glance around the room showed just one person with their hand up indicating they had voted. However, Jackson went on to tell organisers any meeting should be held earlier in future.

Jackson said ratepayers had told the council they wanted an 80/20 split between core and non-core funding and said inadequate rates increases in the past had added to the challenges of the council.

He made no apology for being a champion of the arts, culture and social infrastructure, and said central government criticism of “vanity projects” was “low hanging fruit” and the council needed to unlock more infrastructure funding from the Government.

Chris Thomas said in 10 years’ time 29% of the population would be aged over 65 which would be a big issue, and something the council should plan for.

“We need to plan for accessible, affordable homes and transport, access to timely healthcare and medical services,’’ Thomas said.

Protecting the district’s parks, libraries, sports and arts sectors was important, as well as attracting people who wanted to stay, he said.

Creating a council Perpetual Investment Fund, such as the New Plymouth District Council had done could be one way of alleviating rates pain, he said.

Working in health for more than 50 years, Anah Aikman, a nurse, said health was “absolutely everything’’.

“It’s the foundation of who we are and community wellbeing is really important.’’

Arts and culture were also important, Aikman said, adding she was “about the people’’ and referred to the proverb, He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

She said having spoken to a number of people and asked how they would promote Timaru to a newcomer, she did not believe there was a sense of belonging and community, which was important to foster.

Aikman said she would ask questions and be a value-based leader.

Dairy farmer John Bolt said he was sick of working hard and watching council waste money and as a newcomer he stood for change.

Bolt was critical of the $1.6m spend on redeveloping Strathallan Cnr and reducing the number of public toilets to four. He also questioned the need to spend $47m on the Theatre Royal and Museum project, and said new water requirements would come at a cost.

He said the council should get out of the cafe and gym business which were “apparently good” at losing money, and stick to the core basics. Bolt also called for a widening of rural roads and suggested knocking down some buildings and creating cheaper parking to help reinvigorate the CBD.

The first of the Geraldine ward candidates, Gavin Oliver said he was seeking re-election to represent a community that was “moving forward”, was growing faster than expected and boasted no vacant shops.

Oliver spoke about the importance of getting the district’s rural roads sealed, and said shingle roads had taken a beating over the wet winter.

He said he had found councillors very narrow minded when it came to sealing the districts unsealed roads, which accounted for about 40% of roads, and said that must change.

He said he would fight to protect South Canterbury’s outstanding natural landscapes from carbon farming and said the views should not be lost to short-term gains.

Philip Harper, who is also standing in Geraldine, said there was a juggernaut of issues coming for local bodies, and he represented change.

Harper said with a large ratepayer base on fixed incomes, it was critical the council got back to basics and he had received overwhelming feedback on “alarming rates rises”.

He said if rates caps were introduced, there would be problems for councils especially given the changes to water being introduced.

The only Temuka-Pleasant Point ward candidate at the meeting, Scott Shannon, said being a councillor was “not for the faint hearted’’ and wished all candidate well.

He said the council had been working hard to cut costs.

“And we need to continue working hard on getting, finding the efficiencies, and the savings to get it as low as we possibly can, but it’s not about cutting rates, it’s about the things that are making up the cost of your rates.

“We need to analyse those things to death.’’

He said what the council did repair needed to be done better, and he felt the CBD should be the heartbeat of a town and the challenges were the same everywhere.

Anderson read out answers sent in from Temuka-Pleasant Point ward candidate Michelle Pye, who was at a national potato meeting.

Pye said, in comparison to other councils, she felt Timaru did “core infrastructure pretty well’’, but there was room for improvement, and there needed to be more of a focus on better project management.

In regard to roading, she said the council needed to do better and be more proactive when it came to planning for wet seasons such as the winter the district had just experienced.

“I specifically asked about this in a recent council meeting and will keep advocating for this,’’ she said.

She said the council needed to undertake the rates review planned for the coming year and determine whether the rating differential charged to some was fair.

“But remember, if someone pays less, someone else has to pay more,’’ she said.

ECan candidates were asked how they would strike a balance between growth and environmental protection, with discussions on the “broken” RMA, concerns around regulation and consenting, and a perceived lack of communication from the council.

Incumbent Nick Ward, a farmer, said keeping rates increases affordable was a key priority, as was tackling the issue of wilding pines, cutting bureaucratic processes and protecting strong regional decision making.

Ward said he would like to improve ECan’s relationship with the public and build trust through transparency.

He said consenting and compliance was costly and suggested a global consent for farmers rather than multiple consents.

He said longer-term consents were needed as banks were unlikely to lend on short-term ones.

He said more incentives around green projects were needed.

Scott said South Canterbury accounted for 43% of the land under the council, but only 10% of the vote and needed strong governance to represent it.

Scott’s priorities were similar to Ward’s, identifying pest control and river management and flood protection as well as nitrate levels.

He said the regional council had a massive target on its back in terms of reform.

Newcomer Toni Severin, a former Act MP, said she did not live in the area, but spent time in Tekapo and was across the regional issues.

Eagle-eyed constituents may recall Severin spoke on behalf of the party at a candidate meeting in Timaru ahead of the 2023 general election after the party’s Rangitata candidate Elaine Naidu Franz resigned after it emerged she compared Covid-19 mandates to concentration camps.

Severin identified the same priorities as Scott and Ward (flood protection, pest eradication) and said as well as wilding pines and wallabies, wild pigs were a huge problem now, especially in the Waitaki.

She said she was also concerned about carbon farming which would require a lot of water and raised concern about the high number of communications staff on the council - which she put at 80.

“You may have 80 communication staff in ECan, but how well are they actually communicating?’’

She said she would support the removal of the regional council if it gave more power to local councils.