Napier deputy mayor wins Superhuman award but reveals she’s stepping down

The lineup in a proud moment for the Napier City Council and Napier Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan – the SuperHuman Award winner on the Local Government New Zealand big night in Christchurch. From left: councillor Keith Price, council chief executive Louise Miller, regional councillor Sophie Sears and chair Hinewai Ormsby, Napier councillor Sally Crown, Annette Brosnan, Mayor Kirsten Wise, LGNZ president Sam Broughton, and Mana Ahuriri Trust general manager Parris Greening.

Napier Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan is going out on a winning note – capping 12 years on the city council by receiving the Local Government New Zealand SuperHuman – Tū Kaha Award and confirming in almost the same breath that she isn’t seeking re-election this year.

But, from Christchurch Airport, awaiting a flight home after a “dusty” time celebrating the receipt of the honour on Thursday, she indicated she may be back, saying: “I am confirming I’m standing down, not seeking re-election for this term.”

As for the award, and despite some conjecture as to what a local body politician needs, SuperHuman doesn’t mean she’s pulling weights, and she’s not Popeye. “No tattoos, no spinach,” she said.

Brosnan, husband Greg, and their son and daughter, both born during her time on council, are off backpacking to see the world.

The four-term councillor is urging others to put their names forward for the local elections in October, nominations for which close on August 1.

She says people who have a love for the city, can articulate themselves and “have a thick skin at times”, will find it rewarding, despite the pressures some fear will lead to further decline in the numbers of people prepared to stand for election to their councils.

Winning the only award to an individual among the five gongs presented at the Local Government NZ (LGNZ) SuperLocal Awards ceremony – effectively local government’s Person of the Year – was a “surprise and humbling”, although she had been aware of being one of the four finalists.

According to an LGNZ media release, her work on the council since being first elected at the age of just 25 in a two-candidate race for the single Onekawa-Tamatea Ward on the council in 2013 had “helped shape a better Napier”.

She became deputy mayor in 2019 in the first council of Mayor Kirsten Wise, who is seeking re-election.

Judges commented on Brosnan’s contribution to delivering some of the city’s most ambitious projects and her “ability to engage her community on challenging issues”.

Wise says the award is a fitting tribute to the 12-year career dedicated to serving the community.

“Annette leads with courage, empathy and authenticity,” she said. “She’s helped shape Napier’s future and done so in a way that honours partnership and values every voice. This recognition is richly deserved, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

She said Brosnan’s leadership in key projects included overseeing governance of Napier’s Civic Precinct Project, the Ahuriri Regional Park and championing climate action.

Brosnan regarded the War Memorial restoration and the regional park as hard work, but proud achievements, adding that, while the civic precinct rebuild had the big numbers, “something was always going to happen in that space”.

Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke’s Bay Today, and has 52 years of journalism experience, 42 of them in Hawke’s Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.