Councillor Yvonne Bowater has joined the growing list of elected members not standing for re-election at this year’s elections.
The first-term councillor says that due to changing family circumstances, she isn’t able to commit for a further three-year term.
“Being a councillor is a full-time commitment and unless I can give 100 per cent to the role then I don’t feel that I can re-stand,” she says.
Bowater joins Mayor Rachel Reese, Deputy Mayor Judene Edgar and councillors Kate Fulton, Gaile Noonan and Brian McGurk, none of whom are putting their name forward for the upcoming local body elections.
Yvonne says that overall, it is a significant loss of knowledge and experience.
“In total, Nelson is losing 60 years of local government experience which is quite a significant impact.”
She says that it’s also concerning that five of the six members not re-standing are women.
“Council and the community benefit from a diversity of views and perspectives around the table.”
The announcement comes just weeks after Yvonne's resignation as deputy chair of the community and recreation committee.
Yvonne says that despite sitting in on Council meetings for a year, that Council was very different in practice, but that Covid had not helped and had changed how Council operated.
“We became a lot more reactive as an organization, rather than being proactive and looking ahead to what Nelson needs.”
“For people wanting to stand for Council, they need to be aware that it’s a significant commitment, with regards to time and energy,” she says.
“It’s important to get out and listen to the concerns of the community and businesses.”
She says that you can achieve a lot for the community, which was one of her key goals when standing for Council.
She also says that she’s enjoyed the connections created with community organisations and businesses, and that by working together that Council can achieve so much more.
She used the examples of the Whare Haumaru (Safe Place) developed by The Male Room in conjunction with Rotary Club of Nelson and Council and the recent partnership with Moana SUP to provide a mobi mat for wheelchair users at Tāhunanui Beach.
“I have always been passionate about Nelson and will continue serving our community,” she says.
She says that it’s been a privilege to serve the community and is grateful to have been given the opportunity.
“I have worked hard to honour the trust that the community placed in me and have never taken this commitment lightly.”
