Nelson's deputy mayor, Judene Edgar, will not stand for this year's local body election, meaning the region will have a new mayor and deputy mayor this October.
Nominations for this year's Nelson City Council election open today but the one-term Nelson councillor and former Tasman District councillor says her name won't be among them.
“My decision has not been made lightly or easily, but the social and political landscape has changed significantly over the past three years, and I think my skills can best support the council and community through different avenues,” she says.
Earlier this year, Mayor Rachel Reese announced she would not seek a fourth term and a number of other councillors have also said they will not re-stand.
Despite stepping back from council, Judene says that she would remain engaged with the Future for Local Government Review, and would be advocating for governance changes in Nelson and Tasman.
“With the Three Waters and Resource Management Act reforms, the role and purpose of councils is going to change significantly,” she says. “Whether this means going back to smaller, localised entities more focussed on community services or perhaps amalgamated unitary councils with local boards like the Auckland model, or something totally different is yet to be determined, but I’m keen to stay engaged.”
Judene was a vocal opponent of the amalgmation bid by former Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio in 2012, but says that that was primarily due to the process and proposal itself.
“The model was never worked through with the councils or the communities it was purported to serve. Local governance and local government serves an important role in people’s lives so any changes need to consider the different communities and their differing needs.
“That being said, one of my biggest frustrations has been areas where I see duplications and inefficiencies, of staff time, of elected member time, of resources, and of money,” she says.
She acknowledges that the needs and priorities of Nelson and Tasman residents can be quite different, but says that there are areas such as accounting, IT, GIS mapping or even consents that could be combined without impacting on the individuality of the regions.
While she says that the two councils work collegially and successfully on a number of projects including Saxton Field (which she’s been a member of for 15 years) and the Nelson Tasman Regional Landfill Business Unit that she chairs, she says that there is still a duplication of effort that goes into such activities.
“I’m particularly proud of some of the innovative work we’ve been doing at the landfill, specifically the regions’ largest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It may not be very sexy, but I’m really delighted at the collaborative work that has achieved significant changes in our operations and emissions profile.”
Also Chair of the Urban Development Subcommittee, she says that she’s delighted with the creation of the Housing Reserve and seeing Habitat for Humanity Nelson and Nelson Tasman Housing Trust using funds from Phase 1 of the Reserve to create sustainable, affordable housing.
“For less than $2 million we have supported the establishment of 19 new affordable homes – that’s over $11 million return on our investment – and affordable homes for people who desperately need them,” she says. “I’m hoping to see Phase 2 released prior to the end of the triennium as the demand for affordable housing continues to grow and this is a priority area all elected members support.”
She will be remaining as a trustee of Network Tasman Trust and Nelson Tasman Regional Hospice and says she remains committed to a number of causes and projects close to her heart. Having written and directed her first play earlier this year, she says that she’s also looking forward to having some free time to pursue her creative interests.
“I’m proud to see the Arts and Creative Strategy come to fruition and I’m looking forward to the difference this can make to our creative sector when council picks up the actions, and see Nelson return to its former glory as the creative capital of New Zealand.”
