”I was values-driven then, and I’m values-driven now. I worked hard then, I will work hard now.
”My only regret is that I didn’t have the opportunity to complete the work that I was elected to do and I’m asking for that opportunity now as mayor.”
Asked if she would have any concerns if other members of the previous council were elected, she said: “I trust the city to elect good people to lead the city and I will work with whoever is elected.”
Salisbury is only running for mayor and not as a councillor in her home ward of Welcome Bay.
”I was initially going to run for both, but I just felt like what we need is a decisive leader in our city and so in running, I would like to be that leader.
”Welcome Bay, it’s my home, but I think we need decisive leadership.”
She said she decided to run again because she understands the complexities of Tauranga from having already been on council.
Tina Salisbury after she was elected to the city council in 2019. Photo / George Novak
”I learned a lot in that process and feel that I can bring a different style of leadership to the city to be a part of the solution.”
”I think we all would like to see a culture change. In the way politics is done, the way councils are run, and I think I would bring that style of leadership.”
She said her leadership style was “decisive and collaborative”.
”I engage, listen, I can pull people together. I’m a team person and I think that’s how we’re going to find the solutions, we’re going to do it together.”
Tina Salisbury says her key priorities for Tauranga include addressing the housing shortage and building a connected city through transport and infrastructure. Photo / George Novak
Salisbury said if elected her key priorities would be to address the housing shortage, build a connected city through transport and infrastructure, value community and foster collaboration.
She has been a business owner, a church pastor and became a justice of the peace in 2021.
After her time on the council, Salisbury was part of the Wednesday Challenge, the initiative that aimed to get people out of their cars and using other modes of transport every Wednesday.
