Hamill's passion still in water around him

Rob Hamill is considering standing for election to Environment Waikato.

But the former Olympic and trans-Atlantic Ocean rower, who is also a first-term Wel Energy trustee and motivational speaker, said he had still to finally make up his mind, despite being described in a Waikato Times editorial this week as "a shoo-in", should he stand.

While the regional council has been dominated through the existing term by a Rates Control faction focused strongly on keeping costs to ratepayers down, Mr Hamill said his starting point in any political campaign would be centred on doing what was best for the environment.

"I would love to think people can see the bigger picture here," he said.

"The issue is not next year's rates but next decade's place we live in.

"My core is being rocked by the degradation that is all around us.

"The basic issue is what is right by the environment, what is right for this place we have to live in?"

While Environment Waikato deals heavily with environmental and conservation issues, council seats have seldom been contested by candidates espousing overtly "green" credentials.

But Mr Hamill, who lives in Te Pahu, said his interest in standing was first triggered by 2008's "horrific" report on the state of water degradation in the region which suggested it was unsafe to swim in about 80 per cent of waterways.

He was now working through a process of talking with existing councillors, EW staff and friends.

"I don't know yet if more can be done, or if the current approach is wrong or not.

"But I am trying to understand the issues that face Environment Waikato, and see if there is anything better that can be done.

"If I think there is a way to make a difference, I will stand. If I don't, I won't."

He said more has to be done about fundamentals like water degradation.

"I need to do a lot more work before I come to any conclusion but how things are now defies all our basic beliefs."

On the Wel Energy Trust, Mr Hamill is chairman of the energy efficiency sub-committee, responsible for insulating older homes and promoting the use of solar, wind energy and other technologies.

He has a special interest in sustainability and energy production.

- © Fairfax NZ News