Candidate has many roles in community

Bayden Barber.

Bayden Barber is a man who wears many hats in the community and has thrown another hat in the ring as he runs for the Hastings District Council.

Born in Hastings but living in Waimarama, Mr Barber is standing in the Hastings-Havelock North ward because he wants to make Hastings District the best place for families to live, work and play.

That includes a focus on core services and infrastructure, safe drinking water, roads and waste management.

"I feel that council has lost track of the important issues facing residents," Mr Barber says.

"I am concerned that excessive regulation and wasteful spending by council are hurting our community by pushing up the cost of living for those who can least afford it."

Other areas of focus include supporting business by making it easier to do business in Hastings District.

He believes this is achieved by "reducing barriers and cumbersome regulation", thus supporting our existing local businesses to thrive.

Having a buoyant local economy and transforming communities are at the heart of his message.

"This can be achieved by supporting innovative activities that build pride of place and enhance the community spirit."

Mr Barber runs his own consultancy firm with his wife, Myra, and between them they have seven children.

Fluent in te reo Māori, Mr Barber is chairman of Waimarama Marae and is actively involved with his iwi and hapū.

Mr Barber is also chairman for Health Hawke's Bay, a trustee on the national Māori Education Trust and a member of the governance committee for Takitimu Ora, the Hawke's Bay's Whānau Ora collective.

The 43-year-old has been a proven voice for Māori, both in Hawke's Bay and nationally due to his many community responsibilities and roles throughout the years.

"I'm told I have a knack for walking in both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākeha and bringing the two together in a mutually respectful way, which makes me an ideal candidate."