Business consultant has put up his hand for Hawke's Bay Regional Council

Guy Wellwood has announced his run for the Ngaruroro seat for Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Photo / Supplied

A Hawke's Bay business consultant has put up his hand to run for Hawke's Bay Regional Council in the Ngaruroro Ward.

Guy Wellwood, who recently retired after 40 years practicing law, said he believes his experience advising and assisting Hawke's Bay clients provides him with a good insight into the issues ratepayers are facing.

He said he will bring a balanced perspective to a council which he believes has become factional and bitter.

"I will be working for what is best for Hawke's Bay.

"It's critical that the Regional Council achieves a balance between health, social and economic development and protection of the environment.

"I'll be advocating for a more collaborative approach so we can make the progress that we should be making in Hawke's Bay.

"I'm running as an independent and want issues to be debated more and balanced compromises made."

He said the main issues for Regional Council currently are water, cleaning up rivers, protection of coastlines, pest destruction and the development of Napier Port.

Tree planting programmes and ensuring primary industries can prosper are other key issues, he said.

He also said there is opportunity to enhance transportation in Hawke's Bay, and is an advocate for freight and passenger rail.

As well as his law experience, he was a adviser to a former agricultural and trade minister.

He ran for the Hastings Mayoralty at the 2016 election against Lawrence Yule.