October 11 2022
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Tide of change in local election u by Andy Bryenton
Preliminary results in Kaipara’s local body elections indicate a council full of new faces and a provisional win for Craig Jepson as mayor..
Rail revitalisation discussed
The government is seeking to make a case for expanded rail …
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Restoration in pā site’s future
Part of the new plan for Pou Tu o Te Rangi and Harding Park …
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Stronger together
On September 29, the staff and students of Ruawai College hosted their Mental Health Awareness Week …
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Official results comprising of special votes and hand-posted ballots will be in by October 19. Still, the figures already tallied and made public, show Mr Jepson ahead of his nearest rival for the mayoralty by more than 1,000 votes. “It was a bit of a shock to receive such a strong mandate,” says the provisional mayor-elect. “It was very humbling. I walked the streets all over Kaipara, and I feel that what I heard then is reflected in the vote. A strong repudiation of Three Waters, of co-governance, and of the Kaipara District Council spending beyond its means.” Despite being the first Mangawhai citizen to win the mayoralty of Kaipara, Mr Jepson is adamant the illusion of an east-west divide must be broken down. Achieving this is one of his first orders of business — a hallmark of his administration to come. “I want to be a mayor for the whole district. Dargaville needs me as their mayor, as Mangawhai is already growing. I want to bring that growth and progress to the whole district and to Dargaville. We need a strong economy and a place that people want to live in,” says the provisional mayor-elect. Next on what has become a very busy agenda for Mr Jepson is to meet with the council’s chief executive and with the team of councillors, who, pending final results, will make up his administration. With them, his first goal will be a frank assessment of spending to curb rates, especially for the elderly. He says he’s excited about the people
A cut above the rest
who have been elected and looks forward to a harmonious working relationship. “When I was a young fellow, up north, playing rugby and living in a rural town, we had very little money, but we all got on, regardless of race, creed, religion or background. We had community spirit, and that’s what I see in Kaipara, that rural thing, that sense of community,” Mr Jepson said. Meanwhile, the constitution of that council suggests a desire for change. Voter turnout was higher this year than at either of the two previous elections, but some regional races were very tight. At the time of publication, provisional council members include Jonathan Larsen, Rachael Williams and Mike Howard, Mark Vincent and Ron Manderson, Pera Paniora for Kaipara’s Māori ward, and Gordon Lambeth, Ash Nayyar and Eryn Wilson-Collins to make a complement of nine including the mayor. The future of inter-regional diplomacy also looks bright, with p New hands on the helm of Kaipara — provisional mayorelect Craig Jepson says that rates reduction and the end of provisional mayor-elect Jepson the east-west divide will be his first areas of focus congratulating Wayne Brown as mayor of Auckland. Final results, which may alter the The pair have worked together outcome of narrow-margin victories in extensively on development projects in both the Moananui o Kaipara and the the past, with Mr Brown in the capacity Wairoa General wards, will be available of engineer. by October 19.
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