Poacher turned game keeper

After eight years as a council officer Steve Costelloe wants to sit with the councillors.

The former Rangitikei District Council employee is running for council in October's elections and said his inside knowledge and understanding of council would help in a governance role.

"To some extent it's poacher turned game keeper," he said.

"One of the big issues for me is the amount of money that gets spent contracting services which should actually be managed in house."

Mr Costelloe said contracting and shared services arrangements sounded like a money saving venture but he didn't believe it was.

"The reality is we pay a wage plus an overhead," he said. "The reality is they are actually being milked."

He also felt council money spent on recent place making projects has been a waste of money.

"I think that a lot of good Marton people could have probably achieved the same thing with some motivation and assistance."