Prison, mega-dump big issues in Waikato rural areas

By KEVIN TAYLOR, CATHY ARONSON and PATRICK GOWER

Little heat has been generated in rural Waikato council races but the perennial issues of economic growth and population decline remain.

But while local authorities in the south, such as Ruapehu, struggle with population loss and economic decline others, such as Thames Coromandel, have the opposite problem.

The Waikato district has the big issues, with a proposed mega-dump and a prison.

Those districts hold the most interest this election.

The district health board election has attracted 66 candidates for just seven seats.

THAMES COROMANDEL DISTRICT

The district has faced major financial and environmental hurdles in the past three years.

It will have the difficult task of balancing affordable rates for more than 27,000 ratepayers with the need to pay for new sewage and water systems to accommodate the 180,000 summer visitors that keep the economy ticking.

But 25 per cent of the ratepayers are elderly, many on fixed incomes, and 51 per cent are absent ratepayers with holiday homes.

During Mayor Chris Lux's first term the council constantly made headlines with sewage spilling into the harbour at Whangamata, and was forced to halt subdivisions for 12 months in Tairua-Pauanui because its sewage system could not cope with summer loads.

Last year, Environment Waikato told the council not one of its 20 water and wastewater plants complied with its resource consents and it is now faced with a $40 million bill in the next 10 years to fully upgrade the systems.

Mr Lux says the council's problems are historical. The plants are now compliant but need further upgrading. But as a result the council has created a $21 million external debt in three years.

Many of those who have criticised the council for bulldozing through changes are now standing under the Coromandel Care ticket in nearly every ward.

Mr Lux's only rival, councillor Margaret Hawkeswood, was taken off five committees this year after she tabled allegations of financial misappropriation over a $30,000 contract.

She has lodged a complaint with the Auditor-General. She says the need to upgrade infrastructure is essential but wants the council to control it better by pooling its reserves and establishing an internal borrowing facility to eliminate the need for external loans.

WAIKATO DISTRICT

The retirement of long-serving Waikato District Mayor Angus Macdonald means open slather for the position, with eight hopefuls standing.

Four - Judy Cole, Ian Kimpton, Robert McGuire and deputy mayor Peter Harris - are councillors. Two - Mr Kimpton and ex-councillor John Deacon - are making a third attempt at the mayoralty. The other three newcomers, Steve Hart, Kevin Elsbury and Robert Tukiri, claim it is time for fresh blood.

The council has had one of its most controversial terms in the past three years with the Northern Waikato destined to accommodate a 650-bed men's prison and the country's largest rubbish dump only kilometres apart.

Last July, more than 100 ratepayers marched for 34km from Te Kauwhata to storm the council chambers in Ngaruawahia, furious that the council allowed the mega-dump to go ahead and vowing that sitting councillors' heads would roll at the next elections.

Many councillors have been reluctant to speak out on the prison and the hearings will not be held until after the elections.

WAIPA DISTRICT

Accommodating growth without crippling ratepayers is Waipa's main issue.

Two-term mayor John Hewitt is not seeking re-election and three councillors, Alan Livingston, Ron Cooper and James Parlane, want the job.

The candidates say a high proportion of the ratepayers are on fixed incomes and cannot afford large rate rises.

The last term has seen the council commit $7.25 million to an events centre in Te Awamutu, a decision Mr Cooper and Mr Parlane say the community should have had more say in.

Mr Cooper says that with 12 years' service on the Waipa District Council and six years as deputy mayor in the previous Waipa County Maungatautari ward, his becoming mayor would be a natural progression. In 1998, he was 400 votes away from getting the job.

Mr Parlane, a lawyer, wants a fresh direction in a council which he says has had too many old councillors accustomed to rubber-stamping staff decisions.

Mr Livingston, a two-term councillor, wants to promote growth while encouraging Cambridge and Te Awamutu to develop their own characters.

HAURAKI DISTRICT

The Hauraki election is more of a vote for the old versus the new rather than any important election mandate.

Two new contenders are taking on 54-year-old Basil Morrison, who has been Hauraki Mayor since the council was formed in 1989. Last year, he was elected Local Government New Zealand president.

Mr Morrison says as mayor he has upgraded water supplies, sewage systems, land drainage and roading and tried to encourage economic growth.

The council has upgraded town centres to attract more tourism dollars, including a $3 million renovation of Waihi to avoid an economic downturn when the Martha Mine closes in 2007.

But the council's attempt to save Waihi backfired when the contractor doing the job went broke and left a trail of debts.

Mayoral candidate Bronwyn Wightman decided to run after she became spokeswoman for more than 15 businesses who still face a combined debt of $100,000.

Ms Wightman, who has lived in Waihi all her life, wants more accountability, public consultation and fresh ideas.

Ruka Raharaha, 35, is a check-out supervisor at Paeroa Woolworths and wants to encourage businesses, cut rates and make the district genetic modification-free.

MATAMATA-PIAKO DISTRICT

Two candidates are challenging incumbent one-term mayor Hugh Vercoe. They are former district councillor Mark Troughton and Mapuna Turner of Te Aroha.

Mr Troughton has tried for the mayoralty before, his "it is time to stop cutting ribbons and start planting trees" approach in stark contrast to the more conservative Mr Vercoe.

Just five people are contesting the four seats in the Matamata ward, although eight are standing in the Morrinsville ward and 10 in the Te Aroha ward.

WAITOMO DISTRICT

A five-way race for the Waitomo mayoralty has lacked spark and big issues.

That is surprising given the shock council proposal to the Local Government Commission recently that it merge with neighbouring Otorohanga district.

At the same time Caves residents want to break away and join Otorohanga after dissatisfaction with Waitomo council service and its withdrawal from financing Tourism Waikato.

Of the five mayoral candidates, all from the Te Kuiti area, three are councillors and the other two have some community standing.

The councillors are Ian Wards, Mark Ammon and Alan Pellowe.

Pauline Bassett, from Te Kuiti, and retired policeman Allan Andrews are also standing.

OTOROHANGA DISTRICT

Otorohanga is barely having an election.

Eric Tait was re-elected unopposed as mayor when nominations closed last month. Councillors were also re-elected unopposed in three other wards.

The Wharepuhunga ward couldn't find any candidates, and a byelection will be held after the new council meets.

SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT

A lack of interest from candidates also marks South Waikato's elections, where incumbent Gordon Blake is in a strong position to retain the mayoralty.

Economic concerns and population decline are issues. In the past 12 years the population has fallen from 27,000 to 23,500.

Mr Blake, a 59-year-old businessman, has been in charge since 1989 when the district was formed and his only challenger last election, Mel Fountain from Putaruru, was defeated by 7117 votes to 1134.

Mr Fountain is standing again, along with Priscilla Taiapo-Tereu of Tokoroa. Neither has council experience.

The Tirau ward and community board positions are filled because nominations did not exceed the number of seats, but there are contests in the Tokoroa and Putaruru wards.

RUAPEHU DISTRICT

A two-horse race is taking place between incumbent mayor Weston Kirton and newcomer Sue Morris.

While several councillors were elected unopposed when nominations closed, others face a bitter fight for their seats. The competition for the Taumarunui ward is hot, with 14 candidates vying for four positions.

Economic worries and population decline are worries this election. The latest census figures show Ruapehu has lost more than 3000 people.

The district had the biggest percentage population decline in New Zealand - down 17.5 per cent to 15,111.

But Mr Kirton argues the district has shed only 1600 - because of flooding, soldiers on East Timor duty, the closure of freezing works, poor ski seasons and a drift away from rural areas.

ENVIRONMENT WAIKATO

Environment Waikato has 34 candidates running for 14 spots.

The regional council's 1998 State of the Environment report highlighted the need for more management of its land and water contamination, maintaining the Waikato's unique biodiversity, reducing waste and dealing with hazardous substances.

Farmers have come under increasing pressure to pay for work to protect waterways and many of the council's decisions and interpretations of the Resource Management Act have been legally challenged.

Last year the council proposed restrictions on dairy, sheep and beef farmers to reduce nitrogen levels in Lake Taupo, a move which could cost farmers millions.

Three candidates - Neil Clare in Hauraki, Andra Neeley in North King Country and Evan Penny in Thames Coromandel - have already gained their seats without a challenger.

The Hamilton ward is hotly contested, with 12 candidates vying for four seats.

WAIKATO DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD

Voters will have a big job sifting through the huge list of candidates seeking health board positions.

Sixty-six candidates are in the running for the seven elected positions. Many belong to health and welfare organisations. Funding will be the major issue.

Feature: Local body elections 2001

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