Incumbent mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and challenger Damon Harvey squared at a Hawke's Bay Today debate on Monday evening. Photo / Warren Buckland.
Incumbent mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and challenger Damon Harvey squared at a Hawke's Bay Today debate on Monday evening. Photo / Warren Buckland.
The two candidates vying for the Hastings mayoralty have jostled over some of the biggest issues facing the district.
Themes that emerged at the Hawke's Bay Today Mayoral Meeting at Karamu High School on Monday included how much Craggy Range Track cost, to how to secure our water supply, andwhat to do with the district's gang problem, incumbent Sandra Hazlehurst and challenger, Damon Harvey squared off in front a crowd of about 260.
A crowd of about 260 filled the Karamu High School Hall. Photo / Warren Buckland.
Many more tuned in to the Hawke's Bay Today Facebook Livestream, broadcast in partnership with Hawke's Bay App.
At the end of the evening, an informal straw poll saw Harvey collect 103 votes to Hazlehurst's 73.
About 225 voting forms were handed out, meaning about 50 people did not vote.
Hastings District Council mayoral candidate, Damon Harvey. Photo / Warren Buckland.
Speaking to Hawke's Bay Today after the poll results came out, Harvey said it was "clear that people do want to change up and want to see stronger leadership and a greater vision for Hastings".
Hazlehurst became the district's first female mayor in the 2017 byelection after long-standing mayor Lawrence Yule stood down to succesfully contest the Tukituki electorate as MP.
She says the meeting was a "great opportunity" to share her achievements as Mayor as well as her vision for the future.
"For me actions speak louder than words and it's all about the results we've achieved over the past two years I've been mayor: from getting Government to put $30m into protecting our water, to the $12m yesterday for the Food Innovation Hub, the already underway 7-stage city upgrade; the progress on water infrastructure; getting New Zealand's first housing plan in front of Government to address our housing crisis, and the progress on the Opera House and Municipal Building.
Hazlehurst said candidates have to be "very careful what they promise".
"I would love to say that I can get chlorine out of the water but at the moment that is not an option with the Ministry of Health insisting that we chlorinate," she said.
"The optimum solution at the moment is to build the infrastructure in a way that keeps water safe and that allows us to take the chlorine out in the future. And that is what we are doing."
Hastings born and bred, Harvey was the highest polling new councillor in the 2016 local body elections. He says it was "leadership indecisiveness" which led him to stand as Mayor this time around.
"Council plays a major role and makes important decisions that significantly impact on the prosperity and well-being of everyone who lives here."
In his first term as councillor, Harvey said he had backed the community on "many issues" including ensuring Clifton Beach is protected, standing up against the increase in gangs, supporting the re-opening of access to Cape Kidnappers, promoting the revitalisation of the CBD, pushing for more action in building homes for all, establishing industrial commercial hubs, standing alongside residents fighting for Sparks cell tower and asking: "if water is such a priority, why is council not adhering to consents at Lowes Pit".
"Hastings needs to change-up with stronger leadership, new energy, clear vision and direction and a positive 'can-do' attitude."
Asked what the lessons learned in the Craggy Range Track debacle were, Harvey, in what soon became his catch-phrase of the evening, said: "there was so much hui and actually little do-i".
He argued that it cost more than $1 million in legal fees, track remediation, council staff time and it "divided the community".
However, Hazlehurst defended the price-tag, saying it was instead $500k.
Hawke's Bay Today editor Craig Cooper said the straw poll suggested that last night, Harvey had the slight edge.
"As we said after the Napier straw poll last Wednesday, the only votes that count are the ones being made by registered voters. Last night's crowd was smaller than Napier's as well, so the sample size is smaller. Regardless, Hastings voters have two good candidates to choose from and it looks like being a close race."
Kirsten Wise collected 181 votes after Napier's meeting, followed by Chris Tremain 49, Steve Gibson 26 and David Hannay, 5.
Voting papers in this year's local body elections were sent out from Friday.
Preliminary results will be announced mid-afternoon on October 12 and the final results of the elections will be available between October 17 and 23.
