I am grateful for the strong support in last Saturday’s election. I love this city and know the privilege it is to be Mayor. The role is demanding and stressful but there is also huge satisfaction in ensuring our Council is well governed, that it delivers good infrastructure and services and in being an effective advocate for the city.
Saturday’s results are preliminary. The final results are due on Thursday, but there is unlikely to be change with such clear margins. I am particularly encouraged by the highest level of support ever of the 13 national and local elections since 1990 that I have contested – at 59.8% and up from 46.4% when I became Mayor in 2022. It is significant that all Councillors seeking re-election were returned, reflecting the confidence the city has in our direction over the past three years.
The results nationally saw a high turnover in mayors with about half changing. Many who were defeated headed councils that imposed double-digit rate increases. This reflects the cost pressures on households and businesses and the need for councils to be particularly prudent in their spending.
Nelson, unlike Tasman and Marlborough, voted to retain the Māori Ward by 57% to 43%, according to the preliminary results. I was proud of the mature way our community debated this issue. It bodes well for our future. My ambition for Nelson is that, with goodwill and pragmatism, we can navigate our way through these cultural issues without the division that is afflicting so much of the world.
I am meeting with all Councillors this week, both new and returning, as I put together the governance structure for the Council’s next three years. The new Council will be sworn in on 30 October and our first full business meeting is on 13 November.
I will also be meeting this week with neighbouring re-elected Tasman Mayor Tim King. I see opportunities for expanding joint services to improve efficiency and get better results for the region.
The big challenge when I became Mayor three years ago was recovery from the August 2022 storm. The challenge today, after the tough recession and multiple industry closures, is economic recovery for our city.
