Dakta Green PHOTO/FILE
Legalise cannabis campaigner Dakta Green, who's been jailed twice for possession of the drug, is standing for mayor of the Ruapehu District.
Mr Green joins former mayor Weston Kirton, former deputy mayor Don Cameron and farmer Peter Pehi in the race for the mayoralty left vacant by Sue Morris.
Mr Green is back in his home town of Taumarunui after a 40-year absence and says he's here to make his mark. He has bought the former freezing works administration centre and cafe and wants to turn it into a museum.
The 63-year-old has had a chat with local police, who said they would leave him alone if he did not break the law.
"We don't intend to break the law.
"The reality is cannabis is being legalised around the world. It is only a question of when it will be here."
Cannabis law reform is not his only platform. Mr Green said as mayor he would lead the charge on the "rapacious" Lines Company whose line charges are a major impediment to economic growth in the Ruapehu district, he said.
"They are a monopoly and a law unto themselves and need to be brought to heel."
Mr Green says no-one in their right mind will invest in the district based on the line charges.
Former mayor Weston Kirton was aged 40 when he first headed the council and at 58 he feels ready to to lead the district again.
Two months ago Mr Kirton resigned from his position as manager of the Manaaki Trust residential care organisation to campaign. He has been a regional councillor and previously farmed for 30 years.
He will also campaign on the lines charge.
"We have a social obligation to ensure the community is represented and gets a fair deal."
As mayor, Mr Kirton intends to work with neighbouring councils and get the government to look at a different structure.
Mr Kirton sees tourism as a big plus for the area and would like to see the district promoted as a destination.
But he has concerns about the generation 65-plus and whether they choose to stay or go.
"There are a few battles to fight and debt servicing is one."
He says 50 per cent of the Raetihi population is on a benefit of some kind, and asks how the district can service the debt, currently sitting at $30 million, and climbing all the time.
"Our rates have risen six per cent plus in 10 years, well above the inflation rate. There are big issues trying to keep it affordable."
Don Cameron is in his sixth year as a councillor and fourth as deputy mayor of the Ruapehu District Council.
The 65-year-old former farmer from Horopito says the past four years have given him greater understanding of the business and regulations of council and enabled him to look at the future to improve the economy of the district.
The Lines Company and its charges are on Mr Cameron's radar, but the Te Kuiti-based company was already changing its culture, he said. However, those changes don't mean the charges will be cheaper, he says, but new meters to be installed in homes will help consumers control their electricity usage.
Mr Cameron sits on various committees: Regional Transport, Whanganui Forestry Governance, Cycle Trails (he is a keen cyclist), he is a facilitator on the Rural Support Trust, deputy chair of the Waiouru Waimarino Community Board and the Ruapehu Maori Council.
He says the iwi treaty settlements will also make significant contribution to these changes by their initiatives and their contribution to the economy, and points to the Ngati Rangi Whanau Transformation Project, Hinengakau Trades Training Project and the Whanganui River Settlement.
Peter Pehi is standing for the Ruapehu District mayoralty on the principles of economic growth, sustainable growth in tourism and agriculture, and sustainable growth in local enterprise.
The 47-year-old says he is a hands-on conservationist and a certified Permaculture practitioner on his 800-acre farm at National Park, where he is building an earth house.
Mr Pehi is a past trustee of the Raetihi Marae, a member on the Ruapehu District Maori Council, a rural fireman, a Parewaewae Land trustee and Tohu ki te Rangi Marae trustee. He is Tuwharetoa, Maniapoto and Uenuku and returned to the National Park farm seven years ago after working in Auckland before heading overseas. He is married with three children and five mokopuna.