Opinion piece by Frank Newman
Oh dear, Ken is feeling a little left out.
In a half-page advertisement in today’s Northern
Advocate, Ken says he’s upset that I, as editor of LETTERBOX, did not send him
an email asking whether he supports or opposes Maori wards and Co-governance.
The reason is not hard to find. It was explained in the latest issue of LETTERBOX, but Ken is a regular reader and he should have known that. Issue 33 states:
The Candidate Information that went out with the voting papers is more amusing than it is informative.
The loudest laugh goes to Fiona Green with this comment. “My preference is for an all-male team with me supporting my team. I have found working with men – energizing because they are logical, straight up, and don't harbour grudges for a lifetime”.
What a hoot. So, women are illogical, not straight up, and harbour grudges for a lifetime? I guess Fiona is not chasing the women’s vote then(!) but she will be a hit with the menfolk who will be silently nodding approval (when their partner is not looking)! Fiona has since made a public statement to the effect that the version appearing in the profile was sent in error, but even so, it is priceless and deserves to be in print.
The CEO says the council is “investing [in] what matters
most, our people and local systems.”
Really? The feedback LETTERBOX has received is that what matters most to ratepayers is putting an end to the exorbitant rate increases! The NRC’s 33% rate increase in the last three years is among the highest in the country. Much of the increase has been spent on increasing staff numbers and funding resilience projects.
Maori seats and co-governance have come in for attention during the campaign. To find out where each WDC candidate stands on these two issues, LETTERBOX has reviewed candidate campaign material or contacted candidates directly where their position is not mentioned.
We asked two simple questions:
• Do you support or oppose Maori wards? and
• Do you support or oppose co-governance?
Here are the results.
The tracking poll asks respondents to list the five candidates in order of preference, and the results are calculated using STV counting.
I attended the Meet the Candidates meeting last Tuesday at the Maungakahia Sports Complex.
One issue that showed a clear difference between the candidates was that of Maori wards. The candidates could not have been more divided.
In the Mangakahia–Maungatapere ward of the District Council, Tim
Robinson said he supports Maori wards, while incumbent Simon
Reid has always opposed them and supported their removal.
For the Kaipara Constituency of the Northland Regional Council, Lorraine
Norris came out strongly in favour, while incumbent John
Blackwell was just as firmly against.
Of the mayoral candidates who gave their opinion, Ken
Couper and Fiona Green both support
Maori wards, while Marie Olsen left no doubt
that she is opposed.
From where I sat, it was obvious that on the issue of Maori wards, the lines
are drawn, and the choice could not be clearer.
Yet again, facts contradict the election rhetoric.
Here are the NRC's annual rate increases in each of the last four years:
These figures are taken from NRC press releases (see links below).
Here's the council's full response (dated 10 July 2025):
His main competition is likely to come
from Jason Smith, a former mayor who resigned in 2022 to pursue a career
in central government politics. He was unsuccessful, so he has opted to step-back
into the mayoral role.
The other contenders are councillor Ash Nayyar, and Snow Tane, a prominent iwi leader.
After receiving your question, we contacted Mayor Cocurullo for his comment.
Two camps have emerged offering very different perspectives, and a clear choice for electors.
In one camp are those who want the council to focus on core infrastructure and keep rate increases to no more than the rate of inflation, either through a rate and debt cap or by undertaking a comprehensive review of costs to eliminate non-essential spending. Included in this camp are sitting councillors Marie Olsen, Simon Reid, Paul Yovich, and Jayne Golightly; and candidates like Susy Bretherton, Steve Martin, Paul Grace, Matt Yovich, Dave Baldwin, and Crichton Christie.
The contestants in the Whangarei Central Constituency couldn’t be more different. Veteran greenie Jack Craw is being challenged by the fresh-faced and energetic Caroline Davis who is an ambulance paramedic and currently chairs the Whangarei Area Committee of St John.
Rick Stolwerk is being challenged by John Hunt who has a high profile in community sports and held senior leadership roles, and Greg Chalmers is presenting himself as the common sense alternative to sitting councillor and former DoC worker, Amy McDonald.
The Craw, Stolwerk, McDonald trio are seen as instrumental in supporting NRC’s 36.2% rate increase in the last three years which has been used to fund community resilience projects for Maori and increase staff numbers which have risen 54% in the last five years.
Supporters see Maori wards as a step towards fulfilling council’s Treaty obligations, and ensuring Maori voices are included in local decision-making.
Opponents of Maori wards see them as undermining universal representation, divisive, or unnecessary.
