The Waimea Weekly Richmond Ward candidates meeting on Tuesday was a chance to get to know some fresh faces, as well as those who are already well-known to the Tasman District.
Nine out of 10 hopefuls took to the stage at the Richmond Town Hall, including current councillor Mark Greening who was questioned on his attendance record at council meetings.
Glen Daikee was the only face missing, who told host Judene Edgar that he couldn’t make it.
New faces had some tough questions put to them about their understanding of local governance and how they would simply, as some of them spoke to in their opening statements - ‘do what ratepayers want’.
Jo Ellis, Tim Tyler, Ray Griffith, Joni Tomsett, Adele Terrill, Rachel Stevenson, Maxwell Clark, along with current councillors Kit Maling and Mark Greening all began with four minutes to introduce themselves, along with any experience that would be relevant to the position they are seeking at the council table.
Newcomer Joni Tomsett impressed with a wealth of knowledge. At just 29-years-old she spoke of her six years of governance experience including being a current member of the Motueka Community Board.
She said a priority of hers would be advocating for the improvement of State Highway 6 as well as further housing intensification with more one and two-bedroom homes needed.
While she currently resides in Nelson, she says she is actively looking to move to Richmond, where her friends and family are based.
Tim Tyler, also a new face, told the crowd he has “fairly substantial large organization experience” and spoke of Richmond’s “growing pains”.
He said he would “ideally” like to keep rates rises to a minimum, which he defined as being under the rate of inflation.
Jo Ellis said now her children are grown, it’s time for her to put her “16-year-apprenticeship” dealing with council to work.
She spoke of how the prospect of losing the front lawn of her home for a new road was her entry point to battling council and making submissions.
“I’ve still got my front lawn,” she told the crowd.
Her key focus would be on reducing debt by “saying no a bit more often”.
Ray Griffith, the youngest candidate on stage at 25-years-old, introduced himself as “someone who likes a good chat”.
He likened council to a shop, where ratepayers are the customer.
Growing up in Tapawera, he is a member of the National Party but said regardless of that, “local problems require local solutions”.
Adele Terrill admitted she receives Voices For Freedom emails which she finds informative.
A stay-at-home mum for 17 years, she said she had never held an interest in politics, but now her “mother bear instincts” were kicking in.
She says she has a “make do and mend” mentality and believes there has been a grave lack of accountability around the council table with red-tape and overregulation a problem for many in the district.
“If you feel like you’re not being heard, I’m your girl”.
Maxwell Clark, who is also standing as a mayoral candidate said the biggest problem council has is excessive debt and cost overruns with the Waimea Dam.
In his opening address he told the crowd he was “totally opposed” to Three Waters and saw it as an “asset grab”. It was not the only time he brought up Three Waters, or the dam, throughout the evening.
Rachel Stevenson was also concerned with the Three Waters proposal saying the Tasman district would “lose its voice” with the current model.
Rachel, who manages a motel and campground, says she’s interested in the big picture and would focus on debt reduction and good town planning.
Kit Maling, who is seeking a third term at the council table said one of the biggest issues Richmond faces is the urgent need for more social housing.
He touched on the Waimea Dam and said the one good thing about the Three Waters proposal was that the debt from the dam would go into the new entity.
During his opening statement, current councillor Mark Greening said the evening’s time would be better spent getting to know the new candidates and removed himself from stage.
“Instead, I’ll be sitting with you,” he told meeting attendees.
He was quickly brought back to the stage by Judene, where he remained for the rest of the evening, to answer the first round of questions after attempting to yell his answer from the back of the hall.
When questioned on where he actually resides, he gave his parents address as his “principal place of residence”.
He said he simply works in Wellington, and “yes, since Covid” his work had been very busy.
Voting packs have started arriving in mailboxes, with Election Day set for 8 October.
