Hamilton relishes many challenges of council

BUSY: Councillor Mark Hamilton

For Mark Hamilton, who is going for a second term as a Napier City councillor for the Nelson Park ward, making the decision to stand again was far from easy.

"I have a very busy job (he is managing director of Alexander Construction) and the time you spend with council can be overwhelming so it was a big decision to run again."

But he had enjoyed the challenges of council and working to help push Napier ahead. So he broached it with the board and management team at Alexanders as well as his wife Carol, who he said was totally supportive of it.

"Everyone said 'go for it - do it'."

Which he is pleased and enthusiastic about as he said he relished working for the city he moved back to when he was in his late 20s after stints in Palmerston North and Wellington.

"It such a good and easy place to raise a family - it has so much going for it."

He said embarking on his role as councillor in 2013 was effectively a "natural progression" after 17 years in presidency positions with the Napier Kindergarten Association, Hawke's Bay Master Builders and the Napier Technical Sports Club.

Of the role, he said he was not afraid to challenge the status quo and to present his views at all times.

"I particularly enjoy supporting the positive changes that are happening within the city - influencing key policies."

The council team was a good one to work within, Mr Hamilton said.

"It is an interesting cross section of people and it works well - it is a good selection of the community."

He had embraced moves to make council more transparent and approachable.

Mr Hamilton said one of the challenges for Napier was getting more younger/middle-aged people back into the city and attracting industry into the region and "growing on that".

Initiatives to resource the economic development arm and the formation of the Business Hub were vital.

As well as being councillor for his ward Mr Hamilton has also been deputy chair of the City Services Committee and sits on the Joint Waste Futures Committee, the Regional Cycling Governance Group, Maraenui Social Housing Group and the Rotary Pathways Trust.

With his managing director work and council duties, time was often tight but he managed to find some to enjoy his hobby of cycling and "get to watch a bit of TV".

"It's a role I enjoy - because we are working for the city."