Former Hurunui Mayor returns to council table

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

From local democracy reporter David Hill:

Former Hurunui Mayor Gary Jackson is returning to the council table.
Mr Jackson made a last minute decision to stand in the south ward when there were just two nominations for four positions, just days out from nominations closing.

He won one of four seats in the Hurunui District Council’s south ward in Saturday’s (October 8) local government election.

He was mayor from 2004 to 2010 before stepping down from the council.

‘‘My wife passed away earlier this year and I was searching for what is my new life.

‘‘My daughter said ‘you have a passion for the district’ and she thought it might give me a sense of purpose.

‘‘Mayor Marie Black has done a great job given the pressure the council is under with Three Waters reform and I just want to be a team player at the table.’’

Jackson said he hoped to reinvigorate Amberley’s growth during his time on the council.

‘‘Kaiapoi and Rangiora have continued to make great steps forward, but we’ve lost a little bit of ground.’’

He will be joined by new councillor Vanessa McPherson and sitting councillors Robbie Bruerton and Pauline White.

Mrs McPherson said the new council team had ‘‘a good combination of skills and talents’’.

She said she had a long list of goals she wanted to achieve.

‘‘Honestly it’s early days, but I have a pretty clear vision of how the community needs to grow on its own terms and it seems a lot of people agree with that.’’

She also believed local government elections needed to be ‘‘reinvigorated’’ to encourage more people to vote.

Deputy mayor Vincent Daly and Fiona Harris also return in the east ward.

New councillors Tom Davies and David Hislop were elected unopposed in the west ward, joining sitting councillors Karen Armstrong and Ross Barnes.

Mayor Marie Black was also re-elected unopposed.

Black said she was looking forward to ‘‘building a strong, cohesive council’’.

She was due to meet with councillors individually this week to discuss their goals and aspirations, ahead of the council induction next Thursday, October 20.

‘‘I think it’s going to be a great journey and we’re hoping for less Covid impact on our community over the next three years.’’

Covid-19 was unheard of when Black was sworn in as mayor back in 2019 and the government’s reform agenda was only in its ‘‘infancy’’.

Three Waters and Resource Management Act reform and the future of local government loom as major issues over the next three years.

The deputy mayor will be elected by the council and councillors will decide whether to adopt Tuesday as the council meeting day at the October 20 meeting.

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