Manawatu mayoral aspirants have vision

As candidates gear up for next month's local body elections, Jessica Sutton talks to some of the people who have put their names forward in the Manawatu District.

When it comes to the district's most pressing issues, the two men vying for the top job in Manawatu have very different priorities.

Police officer and Feilding ward councillor Steve Gibson is taking on incumbent Mayor Ian McKelvie for the second election in a row.

Standing for a fourth term, Mr McKelvie has put his hand up for the position and said there was unfinished business for him to deal with.

"We are on the cusp of achieving a lot of things that will make our region a better place in the future and I would like to see these through," Mr McKelvie said.

"The ABC report [regarding boundary and amalgamation issues] is important to the future of the district and the city. It needs to be dear to all of our hearts as it's about the future growth of our economy."

He said there were other major issues in Rongotea, Himatangi Beach and Feilding, but they were all area-specific.

However, Mr McKelvie's opponent, Steve Gibson, said he wasn't as "keen" on the area issues.

Rongotea's water and Himatangi Beach's wastewater schemes have been at the forefront of council discussion for the past few years, and Mr Gibson believes these issues should be taken off the table.

"I think Rongotea would be better off doing their own thing.

"Himatangi residents have been dealing with their own septic tanks for years and I've been to one house where they've got a great system. They should just keep this as is," he said.

Mr Gibson has been knocking on the doors of Feilding residents for the past 10 weeks and said the number one issue on every-one's mind was rates increases – a central theme of his campaign.

"I would like to see a zero per cent rate rise in 2011. I'm also not keen on providing the core funding for Destination Manawatu, Vision Manawatu and Sports Manawatu," he said. "I believe we can save $1 million."

On the amalgamation report, he was firmly opposed to the two preferred options – amalgamation and boundary change two.

"It'll leave us vulnerable to Palmerston North. We're able to run our own camp as is," he said.

Since the last election, meeting attendance records reveal Mr Gibson has been to the least amount of council meetings – however, he has missed only two workshop committee meetings.

He has attended 25.5 of the 36 council meetings held and 25 of the 32 strategic planning and policy committee meetings.

When asked about his lack of attendance, he said they were days where he had either been sick, on holiday, or working.

Mr McKelvie's record attendance showed he had missed 1.5 council meetings, and only one of the strategic planning and policy committee and workshop meetings.

Aside from the mayoral race, there are many fresh faces in the councillor ward races, with 21 candidates fighting for the 10 spots available.

Long-standing councillors John Gregory and Prue McBeth are hanging up their boots after 12 years on council.

Each candidate the Manawatu Standard spoke to had a different reason for wanting the hot seat and the issues varied from rates to roading.

Deputy mayor and Feilding ward candidate Matt Bell was focusing his campaign on the vision of the region. He said the issues needing to be addressed were the amalgamation report and the strategic roading network plans.

Feilding ward candidate and newcomer Joyce Bailey said she was hoping to tackle the rating issue.

"I think rates need to be affordable for all but are still able to provide the services we require," Mrs Bailey said.

When asked how she intended bringing down rates, she said she would have to work that out when she got onto council.

Rangiwahia community committee chairman and Kiwitea-Pohangina candidate Steve Bielski is passionate about creating a scenic tourist route in the area – but one that is off the main highway. "My objective is to get seven kilometres of our scenic roads up here tarsealed as I aim to get a scenic route to lift up the image of Manawatu."

He wanted to be the voice for rural communities as they tended to feel left out.

Kairanga ward councillor Margaret Giles said it was impossible to focus on one area over the next few weeks.

"I steer clear of campaigning with a single issue, otherwise you tend to become very narrow minded," Mrs Giles said. "I think you need a lot of irons in the fire if you want to be in council."

IN THE RUNNING

Mayor

Steve Gibson and Ian McKelvie

Councillors

Feilding ward (5 positions available):

Joyce Bailey, Matt Bell*, Barbara Cameron*, Bryan Cresswell, Steve Gibson*, Tony Jensen, Margaret Kouvelis, Klayne Leitch, Kester Olivecrona, Russell Parker, Shelley Thomas, and Mark Waterson.

Kairanga ward (3):

Margaret Giles*, Kara Lummis, John Salmon*, and Howard Voss*.

Kiwitea-Pohangina ward (2):

John Baxter*, Steve Bielski, Mike Hoggard, Craig Manning, Alison Short*.

*Denotes current councillors

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