Will he, won’t he? Ashburton mayor to decide future by March
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
Neil Brown has yet to decide if he will stand for a third term as Ashburton mayor.
A year out from the next local body elections, none of the elected members have confirmed their names will be on the ballot.
The next local body elections will be held on October 11, 2025, with candidate nominations opening on July 4 and closing on August 1.
Brown, who celebrated 20 years of service to the Ashburton District Council this week, said he is yet to decide on standing for a third term, but has a timeframe in mind.
“I haven’t made a decision yet.
“I will probably mull it over during the Christmas break and make a decision by early March.”
Making an announcement a few months before nominations open will help other potential candidates with their planning and decision whether to run, he said.
Only two of the other elected members indicated it was likely they would stand again, but they stopped short of confirming it.
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan said she has been thinking about it and “there is a high chance I’ll stand again”.
“A year is a long time and you never know what can change.”
Councillor Russell Ellis, in his third term on the council, said he was “90% sure I’ll be standing”.
With the effects of long Covid finally fading, councillor Leen Braam said he is bouncing back, and “there is a lot of things to do before making any decision” to stand again.
Councillor Lynette Lovett said she planned to make a decision early next year on whether to run for a fourth term.
It is the same for second-term councillor Carolyn Cameron and the four first-term councillors.
Rob Mackle said he is focused on the current tasks at hand at the council and joined Tony Todd, Richard Wilson, and Phill Hooper in saying it was something they hadn’t seriously thought about yet.
The elected members aren’t the only ones tossing up their future next year, with chief executive Hamish Riach coming to the end of his contract in September 2025.
Riach said it was too far away to consider if he'll reapply.
“I’ve been focused on the work at hand at the moment.”
Riach became the chief executive in September 2018, after 17 years at the helm of the Crusaders super rugby franchise.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
-
53.3% Yes
-
46.7% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Poll: Pedestrian access is being extended to the Ōtakaro Avon River - good idea?
Pedestrian access from one of Christchurch’s favourite streets is being extended all the way to the Ōtakaro Avon River. This new 12m-wide pathway will give you a direct, easy route from the street to the river promenade ... perfect for a stroll, a coffee run, or just soaking up the riverside vibes.
We want to know: In your view, what makes a city people-friendly?
What else should our urban areas be doing to support better community connections?
Curious about the full plans? You can check them out here.
-
92.3% Yes
-
7.7% No
Loading…
