Emily Otto takes second shot at council seat

Emily Otto

Long-time marine wildlife centre campaigner Emily Otto is to make her second stand for a place on the Napier City Council.

Mrs Otto said when she heard Rob Lutter had resigned his place on the council she decided to give it another shot.

"I thought 'here we go again - count me in as a starter."

Mrs Otto said she received a lot of support when she unsuccessfully stood for council last year and said it felt right to stand for the vacant spot, which will be decided at the August 19 by-election.

"This time hopefully, with the same support and more citizens Napier-wide, I will be successful."

In her first pursuit of a place on the council, she drew about 6500 votes, and that reaction was another reason she decided to stand again.

"People I didn't know went out and looked at what I was trying to do and listened to what I was saying."

Since news broke that Mr Lutter had left council to take up a new role as chief executive of @Heart, an Auckland-based charity that supports children and families affected by congenital heart disease, Mrs Otto said she had had people ask if she was going to stand again.

She said she had the "energy and the passion" to take on a councillor's role and said her focus was far from being solely directed at the Marineland issue. "It is about Napier."

The 44-year-old said her "Otto motto" would be "Helping Napier Shine". "It is about listening to people - I stand up for what I believe in."

She has been nominated by Colleen Hannan, the grand-daughter of a former Mayor of Napier, Bill Hercock.