Candidates meeting gives voters a clear choice on Maori wards

A reader writes....

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. 

Huge NRC rate increases , +32.9%

A sitting councillor seeking re-election on the Northland Regional Council has dismissed claims of high rate increases.

Yet again, facts contradict the election rhetoric.

Here are the NRC's annual rate increases in each of the last four years:

• 3.54% in the year ended 30 June  2026
• 16.18% in 2025  
• 10.48% in 2024
• 13.89% in 2023 (resolved by the previous council)

These figures are taken from NRC press releases (see links below).

NRC Treaty of Waitangi review cost ratepayers $115,000

A Treaty of Waitangi audit initiated by the Northland Regional Council has cost ratepayers in excess of $115,000. The figure has been revealed in response to an Official Information request made by LETTERBOX. 

Here's the council's full response (dated 10 July 2025):

Kaipara District Council - war of the wards

 

Thirty candidates are contesting the mayoralty and eight council seats. In response to requests from LETTERBOX readers, Democracy Northland has reviewed the campaign material of the candidates and identified those we believe will advance the democratic values that are important to a healthy democracy. The candidates who we believe will respect and represent the interests of the community are:

Kaipara District Council - mayoralty race

Four candidates are running for the Kaipara mayoralty. Jonathan Larsen has been on the council for 11 years, the last 3 as the deputy mayor. He is endorsed by the current mayor, Craig Jepson who has opted to stand for the Kaipara-Mangawhai ward.

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.

Readers write - sand mining in Bream Bay

A reader writes, “Has Letterbox asked our present mayor if he is for or against sand mining in Bream Bay. This matter has a very big following in Bream Bay.” 

After receiving your question, we contacted Mayor Cocurullo for his comment. 

Clear choice emerges - election 2025

Three issues have emerged as key election issues during the campaign: Rates, the role of councils, and co-governance. 

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.

Time up for sitting NRC councillors?

 The Northland Regional Council (NRC) is in for a much-needed shakeup with three sitting councillors facing serious challenges from candidates with strong credentials.

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. 

Maori wards - why are we having a referendum?

 Why? Because the WDC, NRC, and FNDC decided to change the voting system without allowing the public to have a say, and without the public having the right to veto their decision via a binding referendum! The Coalition government is putting that right by forcing all 42 councils that created Maori wards without the veto in place to hold a binding referendum so the public can exercise a fundamental democratic right that some councillors still fail to grasp. 

Maori wards - Keep or remove?

 Keep or remove? That is the question being put to voters.

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.