Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: Let's make the city better

Our mayor will hopefully build a team that puts the interests of our citizens at the centre of decisions.

At the time of writing this, I don't know if Steve Chadwick has made it through to be our new mayor of Rotorua. She deserves the job.

From the time she announced she would make a run for our city's top job Steve has campaigned with the sole purpose of winning. Having a great motivated, and I suspect well resourced, campaign team around to assist you helps immensely but it is the candidate who must maintain the pace, stay the distance and deliver on expectations.

It was not my intention to vote for Steve. Not that I don't think she couldn't do the job. Without a doubt she can. But Steve has been a central government politician. I know a little about that Wellington environment. There are big egos in the Beehive and that doesn't necessarily translate into everyone wanting to work constructively together.

MPs stake out whom they should align themselves with, and you had better be on the winning side. We have seen this played out recently in the Labour Party leadership tussle. I was fearful we may see similar nonsense occurring here at local government level.

But darn it, enthusiasm is catchy and Steve has it in spades. I believe she is genuine in wanting to take Rotorua by the scruff of the neck, give it a good shake and get it firmly fixated on the future and Rotorua's unlimited potential.

Her vision for Rotorua is compelling.

If it has transpired that Kevin Winters is our departing mayor then he leaves the job knowing he has made a significant contribution to the development of our city. Kevin and Sue Winters have given 100 per cent to their leadership roles. They are respected for the quiet, dignified manner in which they have undertaken their work.

I'm sure over the years they have encountered some people who insisted on telling them what their job was and how they should be going about it. Even I experienced this as a councillor. I always find it odd that people who have never held public office seem to know exactly what the job entails. They certainly have no hesitation in telling you where they think you're going wrong.

I guess it's only natural that we see things from our own point of view. But Kevin sometimes amazed me. I could never understand how he kept his cool. I would have told some councillors, myself included I have to admit, to "go jump in the lake" on a number of occasions.

But he never did. Perhaps he muttered under his breath, something along the lines of Oracle Team USA Captain Jimmy Spithill's tweet that caused some comment during the recent America's Cup race.

If he did, it never showed.

What is not always understood is that the mayor has only one vote. And that has equal weighting alongside those of the 12 councillors. In order to make or change policy, or for that matter whenever a vote is required, the recommendation must have at least seven in favour to pass. More is better but seven votes at least. A numbers game really.

As the city's leader I believe Kevin often took the hits for the whole council. That is unfortunate and unfair.

I saw this again during the election when I attended a number of "meet the mayoral candidates" meetings.

As the incumbent Kevin was often treated quite harshly and disrespectfully when he attempted to answer the same questions put to all mayoral candidates. He seemed to be held responsible for every perceived wrong move the council had made in recent years. It was often a futile exercise, Kevin trying to explain how and why decisions are taken.

Some people will only hear what they want to hear. But why make it personal.

I don't know yet if I've made it back as a Rotorua District Councillor and as a member of the Lakes District Health Board. All fingers and toes are crossed. I do hope that RDC will have at least six new councillors around the council table. And that not all councillors with more than 10 years serving on council are re-elected. They have played a significant role in shaping the beautiful city and district that is Rotorua today.

I believe their years of community service should be acknowledged but it is now time to give others the opportunity to make their contribution to Rotorua's on-going development as well. New people, fresh ideas, varied work backgrounds and experience with some "fire in the belly".

I hope our mayor will focus on building a team that puts the interests of our citizens at the centre of all decision making.

And that councillors realise they all have a responsibility and a hand in creating the climate of co-operation and constructive dialogue, which is conducive to quality decision making.

So now it's time for all players to get on with the job of taking Rotorua from a good place, to a great place, to work, live and play. I just hope my crossed fingers and toes have done the trick!