Councillor targeted in car statement

NAMED: The name-painted derelict car in Featherston's main street. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A derelict car painted up with the name of a South Wairarapa District councillor has appeared in Featherston's main street.

The car is parked outside a building owned by John Broeren, which is tenanted.

Councillor Colin Olds has been an outspoken critic of the town's derelict buildings and last year said he favoured the council enacting a bylaw similar to one imposed on property owners in Upper Hutt.

This was designed to force owners to tidy buildings and face hefty fines for not complying, or alternatively empower the council to have them fixed at the owner's expense.

Mr Olds said councillors needed to represent the views of their constituents and "sometimes it takes going out on a limb to spark a reaction".

He said this was the case of Mr Broeren and the state of the buildings he owns, which had been raised in the media over several years.

Featherston people had voiced their concerns at public meetings and there had been complaints to the council.

He noticed the car while driving into town.

"I spoke with the tenant who denied painting [my name] on the car."

Mr Olds said the tenant had "raised the issue that he supported John as I was trying to get them kicked out. I am not sure where that came from.

"The long and the short of it is if you don't speak up to represent the views of your community, you may as well not stand for election," Mr Olds said.