Who should be Invercargill's next mayor?

With locals due to vote in the local elections by noon, next Saturday, October 8, we've asked the ten candidates for their opinions on the major issues facing the district. We've run the answers over the weeks leading up to the election.

This week, we asked: What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

Here 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's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

Three Waters is a legislative change driven by central Government and we must accept the opportunity for our current council to opt-out and join an advocacy group has been and gone. We face losing approximately a third of our rate intake as a result. Keeping 51 full-time staff to run our infrastructure to 2024, preparing for drought, flooding, and other emergencies, ensuring developers and investors are not delayed, and reducing spending to offset the cost of potential water services bills are my priorities for our people.

With 15 years experience working in local and central government, I know how it works. I know the importance of understanding any government’s priorities and have established key relationships that matter in leveraging every opportunity for our city. An effective mayor is a respectful leader, has strong and enduring relationships, is an excellent communicator and shows a willingness to work with any government unconditionally to get the best outcome for our city.

As mayor, I will work for the people of Invercargill and Bluff, not for political parties. I will advocate for regional representation at a national level where possible and work with all local MPs to ensure our regional voice is heard.

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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's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

I have been opposed to the roll out and subsequent debacle of the three waters Entity Bill. It’s clear many of our towns and cities have deteriorating water infrastructure burst pipes, flooding, unacceptable drinking water standards, with more issues from underinvestment over decades. That being said the plan to move the management of three waters away from councils into four huge entities, ultimately leaves our council and community without any accountability from these entities, we loose our local democracy over our infrastructure assets which will put risk to our future economic development. It’s assets grab by this government.

I would use my Central Government experience as a former list MP and those relationships to lobby for Invercargill and write up a Local Government Bill ensuring Invercargill City is kept out of the three waters one size fits all bill. No one else has the experience I have as a List MP that is standing for Mayor, I know first-hand how to get results inside Parliament. Our city will become the poor cousins to other regions like Otago, Central, Wellington and others.

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Stevey Chernishov

Age: 41

Occupation: Educator

What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

Three waters has logistical & priority issues – it massively in-debts each region without a promise of being able to provide the solutions we need. I have a problem with our water being taken & managed by a new corporate entity, which is run by a closed circle of insiders – an entity that potentially could be sold off in the future.

At the base of it – local body assets would be cheaply sold / shifted & rented straight back to their previous owners, to decentralised services that promise fixes but cannot efficiently address the fact that Invercargill needs the replacement of over 400km of underground drainage, sewerage & water pipes (which is ageing 100+ years now). Three Waters' services should not be allowed.

More authority needs to be allocated to local people.

Councillors who are assigned to represent the public don't currently have enough influence on the work carried out by council. New Zealand's government has introduced a concept called 'Local Democracy', which appears to indicate that local bodies have power to make decisions. But, overarching government legislations, controls, financial provision & services provided are overbearing, & provide little scope for innovation. 

One great way to address this is by adding creative input from Councillors constructed in collaboration with members of the public. Making 'submissions' isn't enough. 

More plans need to be created & actioned by the local people. This can best be empowered by council, with a shift in focus from 'regulatory services' to 'non-regulatory services', which means resourcing, encouraging & empowering the public (rather than relying fully on legislation & control to oversee work done).

My offering is to unite Invercargill more closely with Rural Southland & Central Otago. Firstly, by focusing on providing a strong link between three Councils in Invercargill, Southland District & Central Otago.

I am happy to be in communication with surrounding districts, & to bring more united perspective that empowers the locals. My priority is to create a localised economy, & to bring us together from the grass roots up. With unity that is driven by the people; we can together develop our Murihiku/Southern brand. It is time to pool our resources & gifts together, & from there make a stronger offering to the rest of the country for newly developed products & services - Invercargill & all of Murihiku will be known as a localised economy; food, manufacturing & tourism  from the South.

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Nobby Clark

Age: 71

Occupation: Current Deputy Mayor - ICC

What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

Absolutely opposed to 3 Waters reform. I’ve advocated against this reform seeking it be paused and re-thought, as it is not in the interest of our ICC ratepayers to pay extra water rates to resolve poorer investments by other councils.

We will pay $500 per ratepayer in 10 years for that cross subsidy. It is clear that central government through the water entities can not deliver what they state on economy of scale, recruitment and retention of water engineers or private sector contractors ability to upscale the level of work needed.

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Marcus Lush

Age: 57

Occupation: Broadcaster

What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

I would use Invercargill’s strong three waters position to leverage the government to get us the best deal for our city. I will make connections with ministers in central government to ensure Invercargill comes out on top. Clean healthy drinking water is an absolute no brainer and I would do everything to ensure the people of Invercargill have access to that. 

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Tom Morton

Age: 61 years

 Occupation: Marketing /Small business (dog walking)

What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

This is a simple question with a simple answer. Three waters is a way of centralising power. I don’t like centralisation of power and centralisation of greater Southland.

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Noel James Peterson

Age: 69

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

What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

I have no interested in taking sides, a distraction from the real issue, managing our 3 waters. Facts are under the current sitting government coalition (may all change under new government, if a national coalition win the next election) this legislation is being enacted, as they have a majority. It will after all the to and from, negotiating, and discussion, will likely be passed into law. As a territorial local government member, I would be obliged to follow the legislation, the letter of the law. Like it or not.

My point here is I have submitted and will speak to the concept of taxpayers (which pretty much covers everyone in the country including overseas tourists) paying the costs, rather than the ratepayers being solely burdened. In that way you would not have a large rate demand each year, everyone would be paying, as you pay GST, Land Tax, Company Tax, Excise Tax including tourists, fairly. You would likely not notice this as you buy your goods and services, pay your PAYE if employed, regardless of the structure this seems to me a more fair and equitable way of paying the piper for the major works that need to be done.

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Jacqueline Walter

Age - 54

Occupation: Mother and primary teacher

(Did not provide a photo)

What's your view on Three Waters? And, generally, is Government taking too much power and decision-making away from the regions? How would you advocate for Invercargill on a national level?

STOP Three Waters.

For decades, we have tolerated central government overreach. We are now experiencing epic levels of authoritarianism, indoctrination and nasty politics. This won't change by voting National/Act.

There is a nice little word called "no".

We have people power and a gentle culture change of common sense ready within us.

I will lead easy, personally fighting hard, so that everybody can get on with their lives.

I am offering to lead the silent/quiet majority, intergenerationally and multiculturally.

In the south, we do things our way and with excellence.

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