The impact of the General Election on Council and our priorities will need to await the final makeup of Government, but it has resulted in big changes in our parliamentary representation with four new MPs in our city and region.
Council acknowledges the six years of hard work by outgoing MP Rachel Boyack. She was a good advocate in helping us secure the additional funding from NZTA for the big upgrade of our bus services in 2023. She was also an important partner in securing government support for our flood recovery work.
New Nelson MP Blair Cameron faced the disappointment in 2023 of winning the seat on election night by 54 votes only to lose it on the final count by 26. He will be much relieved with his election-night win of 1210 votes. Blair’s background is in economics and international relations. He is 35, has worked with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank and has made Nelson’s economic recovery a strong priority.
Rohan O’Neill-Stevens’ election on the Green Party list is good for Nelson, local government and the next generation. I appointed Rohan as Deputy Mayor in 2022 – he did the job well and will be an important ally of local government. I also, having been first elected at a similar age, think it is important for NZ that younger people have a voice in Wellington.
Council also welcomes the election of Nelsonian Jodie Kuntzsch on the Opportunity Party list. Nelson’s future, more than any other region of New Zealand, is tied to the success of our seafood and aquaculture sectors. Jodie has 20 years of working in this sector including leading the work of Moananui, and development of our Blue House. NZ’s oceans make up an area 20 times our land area and her expertise will be an asset for Parliament.
There is also a significant changing of the guard in neighbouring West Coast-Tasman where for 15 years representation switched between Labour’s Damien O’Connor and National’s Maureen Pugh. Katie Milne, a dairy farmer from Lake Brunner, is the electorate’s newly elected MP.
Council looks forward to working with these new MPs.
