Hastings. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
With just over a week to go until voting closes for local elections, the mayoral race in Hastings is heating up, as incumbant mayor Sandra Hazlehurst steps down.
Five newcomers are vying for the top job, including three councillors, a former policeman and a motorcycle racer.
Darrin Wilson. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
Mayoral candidate Darrin Wilson is a radio DJ, champion motorcycle racer and a fireworks company owner who is selling himself to voters as a straight shooter.
"I'm the only person that's going to stand up and really tell the public exactly how it is and what needs to be done," he told RNZ.
And he's certainly doing that, describing the council as an "overflowing septic tank that needs draining", Wilson wants to halve the number of council staff in an effort to reduce costs.
"It needs to be really sorted out. I need to dismantle the internals and spend the money on only infrastructure and not these fantasy projects," he said.
Wendy Schollum. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
Someone who knows all about the internal workings of council, is local business owner and councillor Wendy Schollum, who is taking a shot at the mayoral job.
"I think the big thing right now is we need to face Hastings' challenges and the change we have ahead of us - we need a mayor who can deliver and has proven that," she said.
The Hawke's Bay born and bred local has been working as a councillor for eight years, and believed she had what it took.
"We don't need noise, we don't need egos and we don't need promises. We need delivery. The other thing for me is it's been about driving savings through the committees I've chaired," Schollum said.
Marcus Buddo. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
Local farmer and councillor Marcus Buddo is also all about savings, and told RNZ his experience inside council meant he was the best person for the top job.
"I've got a plan, the energy and the voting record to deliver on decreasing rates increases and improving housing affordability," he said.
Council finances were at the top of his priority list.
"We need to get our debt coming down, we need to get our rates increases down, and we need to create a city that people can afford to live in and retire securely in," Buddo said.
Steve Gibson. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
Those rates rises are also on mayoral candidate Steve Gibson's hit list.
The businessman is a former policeman and prosecutor, and stood for Napier Mayor six years ago.
"I'll bring financial discipline back to council. I'm going to cut 100 staff from the 2021 levels and cap rates to inflation, I'm going to refocus council on core business like roads and water. Ratepayers deserve relief," Gibson said.
His key issue was the "out of control rates".
"The three current councillor candidates were too busy voting for youth councils, Māori wards and vanity projects, while rubber stamping a 15 percent rate rise. I've shown I can keep rates to inflation and I'm going to do it again," he said.
Damon Harvey. Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
Damon Harvey has been a Hastings and Havelock North Ward councillor for three terms and is running a mayoral campaign focused on positive action, experience and strong community connections .
"I've been doing stuff in the community for 20 plus years so it's been a long apprenticeship, and now I want to step up and give more. I want to be able to lead Hastings and I want to keep the place going in a positive direction," Harvey said.
He said the biggest issue in town, if not New Zealand, was rates.
"That is something that will be an absolute focus from day one. It's not an exciting thing to be focussing on... but we just need to make sure we can find where to save money and also keep Hastings progressing," he said.
Photo: RNZ/Alexa Cook
On the the main street of Hastings, ratepayers are tight lipped about who they're voting for, but not about the issues their area faces.
"The poverty, there are heaps of our people on the streets," a young wahine said.
A business owner had the same concerns, and believed Hastings District Council wasn't doing enough to help the homeless situation.
"We want the homeless to be cleared out and the streets to be nice and clean. And maybe put down the rates as everybody can't afford the rates, they selling their houses because they can't afford the rates," they said.
While another businesswoman was keen to see the new mayor make improvements to the main streets of Hastings.
"We need to do something to drive more people through into the central business district," she said.
Some voters felt disheartened by the council and were calling for whoever takes the reins, to pay more attention to what residents wanted and needed.
"Their attitude to the people (needs to change), the great white ivory tower up there...they don't listen," a pensioner said.
Another local told RNZ he was unsure who to vote for in the mayoral race.
"I'll probably vote for none of them because they're all bloody useless," he said.
Depending on how many votes were cast early, and whether it's a tight race, new mayor of the Hastings District could be revealed on 11 October.
However, official results won't be confirmed until 16 October.
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