New look likely in Bay of Plenty spring clean

By ROSALEEN MacBRAYNE and JO-MARIE BROWN

With five mayors and the regional council chairman retiring, the Bay of Plenty will have a wave of fresh leadership after October 13.

Only Grahame Hall in Rotorua and Colin Hammond in Whakatane are seeking re-election. In other centres, competition is keen for the top jobs. The momentum for a spring clean could also produce some new-look councils after polling day.

TAUPO

With the departure of popular mayor Joan Williamson after 15 years, Taupo residents are in the mood for change. If they are looking for fresh blood from the seven mayoral candidates, local lawyer Clayton Stent has a good chance. He has strong support, particularly from a business community keen to ensure the district's continued economic growth.

Stent's main rival is Rex Hawkins, a former deputy mayor who is hoping his 24 years in local government will see him through. But he, along with other members of the old guard including Joe Keehan and Carole Conde-Acheson, may be forced to make way for a new image.

WESTERN BOP

The struggling Western Bay of Plenty district will be anxious to move on after a divisive three years. Two-term mayor Maureen Anderson has called it quits and five men are seeking the job.

But the new leader is more likely to bring experience than excitement. Seasoned councillors Norm Brunning, a Kaimai dairy farmer, and deputy mayor Graeme Weld of Te Puke are the frontrunners.

Like neighbouring Tauranga, Western Bay carries the burden of trying to pay for expensive infrastructure to meet the demands of migration from other parts of the country without bankrupting a sizeable number of residents on fixed incomes.

With a small ratepayer base and the spectre of amalgamation hanging over it, the council must do some urgent team building to avoid splitting into factions again.

WHAKATANE

Colin Hammond is fighting to be Whakatane's only second-term mayor since the early 1980s. But well-liked deputy Christine Chambers is nipping at his heels. With the retirement of long-serving neighbouring mayors, Opotiki's Don Riesterer and Kawerau's Lyn Hartley, Hammond could be seen as a symbol of stability in the less-than-thriving Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The Onepu dairy farmer had six years on the regional council and nine on the district council before winning the mayoralty, but will lose urban votes to Chambers, a four-term councillor.

Typical of small-town New Zealand, Whakatane struggles to meld urban and rural interests and marry development and environmental concerns. With extremes of wealth and poverty, spreading the rates burden will always be a headache.

OPOTIKI

Ten people are vying to fill the shoes of retiring mayor Don Riesterer. All are men and five are sitting councillors.

For 12 years, Riesterer has been a steady hand at the helm and has given the district a national profile through his involvement with Local Government New Zealand. But the scenically blessed East Coast district is still struggling to pull itself out of the doldrums.

Four-term councillor John Forbes, 48, may have the edge, with deputy mayor Barry McPhee, 59, and longest serving councillor Murray Thompson also in with a chance.

KAWERAU

The difficult task for Kawerau's new leadership will be to turn the town around after the economic battering and subsequent population exodus of recent years.

Five-term mayor Lyn Hartley has stepped aside and three well-known locals have put their hands up to fill the vacancy.

Most likely successor is deputy mayor Malcolm Campbell, who ran a close contest in 1998.

Anita Moore has 21 years of local body service, while newcomer Roy Simpson offers a fresh perspective.

ENVIRONMENT BOP

At a time when it is set to take a greater role in regional government, Environment BOP is losing three stalwarts, including chairman John Keaney who has 30 years in local government politics.

Nineteen candidates are seeking the 12 seats, but no election is necessary in the Western Bay of Plenty constituency where sitting members Jim Pringle and Ian Noble are unchallenged.

Keen interest will be focused on the Tauranga sector, where growth has earned an extra seat, bringing representation to four. Retiring Tauranga mayor Noel Pope is one of six contenders, as is veteran district councillor Elinor Elder.

DISTRICT HEALTH BOARDS

The first district health board elections for 12 years have attracted a flood of wannabes, including health professionals and people with local and central government credentials. Financial woes and medical staff retention are high among the challenges. .

On top of that, Tairawhiti DHB - which has former Maori MP Tu Wyllie on its list of 25 candidates - has a major image problem.

Gisborne Hospital has suffered a series of health scandals in the past 18 months and community confidence in the area health provider is low.

The Lakes DHB, which oversees Rotorua and Taupo hospitals, has 29 nominations, among them retiring Taupo mayor Joan Williamson.

Bay of Plenty DHB, responsible for the Tauranga and Whakatane areas, attracted 62 candidates for seven places.

Sixteen hopefuls are nominated for Western Bay of Plenty's two vacancies and 13 for Whakatane's two.

Board chairman Robin Wray is not seeking re-election, but his deputy, Tauranga pharmacist Mark Arundel, is.

Feature: Local body elections 2001

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