Who should be Invercargill's next mayor?

With locals due to go to the polls in early October, we've asked the candidates for their opinions on the major issues facing the district. We're publishing the answers over the weeks leading up to the election.

This week we asked: What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

Here's are the candidates' answers, in alphabetical order:

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Toni Biddle

Age: 46

Occupation: Senior Advisor for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, former Deputy Mayor of ICC

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

I will advocate for significant change in the way we work with our community to enhance the positive aspects of life here in Invercargill and Bluff.

Our most valuable asset is our people. For years our community has established volunteer groups who have a passion for key attractions in our city including heritage, museums, arts, Anderson House, events, and city beautification. The council should empower these groups to enhance positive aspects of our city.

In 2020, The Community Wellbeing Fund replaced the previous Council funds, the Community Grants Fund, the Neighbourhood Fund, the Iconic Events, and the Development Events, Fund. This fund now distributes up to $565,000 each year. From a $58 million budget, this is not enough. Increasing investment in this area can be done immediately and will support more family attractions, events, and enhancements to arts, heritage, and culture across the city and Bluff without additional rate rises for unnecessary capital expenditure that could take years.

Our community has demonstrated its success with events like Matariki, Polyfest, Burt Munro, and the Oyster Festival. Let’s invest in our people.

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Ria Bond

Age: Not supplied

Occupation: Former NZFirst List MP based in Invercargill. Former skilled migrant co-ordinator for Venture Southland, Contractor, Business NZ Mentor

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

Our members of our community are our most positive aspects to our city and Bluff. When we look at the success rates of our entrepreneurs, our innovators, our small businesses we have the can-do attitudes and punch above our weight on a national scale.

I want to see the new museum highlight our local history and talent in science, innovative education, and technology, to build an intergenerational museum not just the old collections put into a new building. We have to do this once and do it right with future proofing our needs, to tell all our stories. I am committed to getting this prioritised. We have to utilise the funds we have currently to build on our momentum. Our current branding for or city is all over the show from a city with heart to I.C. We need to clean this up and have one story for us all, that way we can attract more tourists with value add, more families, more events, more local attractions, and interactive activities on our city streets. There is currently money for this so it wont be an additional spend.

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Stevey Chernishov

Age: 41

Occupation: Educator

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

Invercargill is a centre full of inventors, engineers, creatives, adventurers & fabulous talent. To truly enhance our position, we need to build our local identity, resources, enterprising networks & cultural backing so individuals can thrive with ideas.

Invercargill needs to rebrand in a way that truly resonates with our people & the outside world. Alongside this, we must focus on creating new opportunities for local people to exhibit & make best use of their talent.

Invercargill is a major service provider to the surrounding district & Central Otago. The businesses & services offered in Invercargill are foundational for surrounding regional growth. We need to work together to build new ways forward for Murihiku. This is going to require a shift in the way we exhibit ourselves - so individuals can truly share their gifts & talents within the community.

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Nobby Clark

Age: 71

Occupation: Current Deputy Mayor - ICC

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

A friendly society with affordable housing. Also significant outdoor spaces, an award winning Queens Park and plenty of safe biking trails. Our Stadium Southland is world class. And finally, plenty of sports, cultural and community services supported by the ILT which we own.

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Marcus Lush

Age: 57

Occupation: Broadcaster

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

Twenty years ago when I moved here, I really felt like I found paradise. Queens park is the gem in the crown - I believe it needs New Zealand’s biggest and best playground which I believe I can achieve and have built by year three and it won’t be funded by the rate payer. It’s a fantastic place to raise a family - but we need more for our tamariki. They are our future and aren’t talked about enough at the council table. 

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Tom Morton

Age: 61 years

 Occupation: Marketing /Small business (dog walking)

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

Invercargill is an outdoors city that’s full of adventure. I think upgrades to Stead Wharf would benefit the entire community.

The Wharf should become an outrigger-canoe area with simple storage sheds nearby, with a cost-effective, floating-pontoon, floating-jetty wharf in front of the outrigger-canoe area.

It’s important that the Wharf is upgraded before it collapses forever. 

Stead Wharf would make for a wonderful area with several mobile, moveable, portable, pop-up trailer restaurants with coffee and snack areas on the reinforced wharf.

It would be better for Stead Wharf to have privately-owned micro-businesses with communal seating, than an established restaurant, as the success of the entire wharf venue should not hinge on one restaurant's success.

Stead Wharf would have an exceptionally, extraordinarily, remarkably profitable food court.

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Noel James Peterson

Age: 69

Occupation: Bluff Community Board Member – Mayoral – Councillor Candidate -Invercargill City Council Election 2022

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

We already possess a most wonderful city & region, “city of light & water” is an apt name. By world standards a clean & green city with richness, people rich, friendly people, culturally diverse city, a city that’s not too big, not too small. Invercargill - Waihopai is the centre of the cultural and financial rich Southland Region – a food growing region, an industry-based region, that supplies the nation & world. The streets are not crowded, crime in global terms is low, an inclusive community where people care about people, something we are known for worldwide.

Many people are migrating here because it’s seen as one of the best places on the planet to live, friendly with a good environment and employment opportunities on the horizon as new industries are attracted to establish here. We are also resource rich, lots of water, ample rich agricultural land all around the city, lots of wind for power generation if we wish. The city was also well designed, with many wide roads, major flood mitigation resources now in place, (likely more needed) wonderful green spaces, parks and tree lined corridors – walkways. We can together diligently continue to build on what we already have!

Jacqueline Walter

Age - 54

Occupation: Mother and primary teacher

(Did not provide a photo)

What are the most positive aspects of life in Invercargill and what can be done to enhance them?

I always find it a bit tricky to say that strong families rock. It's such a no-brainer.

I think we have reached a crossroads in our history regarding whether we have a family friendly nation, or not. We have a serious problem with elitist non representative lawmakers who disregard our family values.

One obvious chain reaction is our impossible LGNZ legislation. We all know it's harming us - but what can be done? Here's one example of what I would do --- If I were your next mayor, when the council is due to participate in a team lesson (sometimes including overnight treats) regarding the Local Government Act, I would boycott it. I would tell the central government to make that Act manageable by our standards. Like you, I would be at home with my family, and I would spend my working day listening to the ratepayers and learning my mayoral job. I would be a mayor who could never sell her soul - not even for a little coziness with 'the team'. You would be my team.

The way to enhance our community is via strong families. You don't need to be told. You just need a break.

• Candidates Darren Ludlow and Sir Tim Shadbolt did not provide a response.