Te Pūao candidates unopposed

Palmerston North has 32 candidates vying for 13 city council seats in the Hirawanui general ward at October’s local body election.

That is going to be the most competitive aspect of the election, given that 12 sitting councillors are standing again. Two nominations were received within hours of the noon deadline yesterday.

Three female elected members – deputy mayor Aleisha Rutherford and councillors Susan Baty and Renee Dingwall – are not seeking re-election.

However, they were three members on a council of 15. With the introduction of a

Māori ward with two councillors, only 13 will be elected from the general ward.

In the new Te Pūao Māori ward, Debi Marshall-Lobb and Roly Fitzgerald, both from Rangitāne o Manawatū, are the only candidates for the two seats.

Mayor Grant Smith faces challenges from contenders he has previously beaten; from Ross Barber, another whose nomination was yet to be confirmed; and from first-time candidate Glenn Mitchell.

Councillors seeking re-election are Brent Barrett (Green), Rachel Bowen, Zulfiqar Butt (Labour), Vaughan Dennison, Lew Findlay, Pat Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson (Labour), Billy Meehan, Orphee Mickalad, Karen Naylor and Bruno Petrenas.

Confirmed candidates from outside the council are Mark Arnott, Mel Butler, James Candish, Manjit Chawla, Mike Clement, Meenal Dutt, Jacinta Fraser, Les Fugle, Chiu Yeung Lee, Atif Rahim, Rhia Taonui, Samuel Walmsley, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin (Green).

In the Manawatū District, mayor Helen Worboys will go up against her deputy, Shane Casey. Fourteen people are contesting 11 ward seats. Two sitting councillors are not seeking re-election: Heather GeeTaylor and Phil Marsh.

Contesting the district’s first Māori ward seat are Bridget Frances Bell and Khan Te Oneroa Wiremu Ngarotata-Hansen.

Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden is being challenged by two incumbent councillors, Victoria Kaye-Simmons and Sam Jennings, while deputy mayor Jo Mason is not seeking re-election.

Contesting the district’s inaugural two Māori ward seats are Nina Hori Te Pa, Troy O’Carroll and Justin Tamihana.

In Rangitīkei, Andy Watson has Dave Christison, Simon Loudon and Quinton Murray Berrett between him and a fourth term as mayor, while the council is set to experience a changing of the guard.

Deputy mayor Nigel Belsham and councillors Cath Ash, Angus Gordon, Tracey Hiroa and Waru Panapa are all bowing out.

Coral Raukawa, formerly elected in the southern ward, will fill the Tiikeitia ki Tai (coastal) Māori ward seat unopposed, while Tracey Piki Te Ora Hiroa will be elected to the Tiikeitia ki Uta (inland) role.

Brian Carter will be returned to his southern ward seat, joined by Jarrod Calkin, both to be elected unopposed.

Incumbent Tracey Collis is being challenged for the Tararua mayoral chains by councillor Sharon Wards, Seventy Mile Bush name-change champion Nick Hill and environmental advocate James Kendrick.

Two people seeking election to Horizons Regional Council have been spared the hassle of campaigning. They are Turuhia (Jim) Edmonds and Allan Benbow.