Southland District mayoral contenders say they are undiscouraged by yesterday’s announcement that incumbent mayor Gary Tong will now be standing against them.  

Tong had said previously that he was withdrawing from the Southland race to stand as mayor of Invercargill, but yesterday announced a change of heart, citing the need for continuity and experience in the Southland mayoralty.

Incumbent Southland District mayor Gary Tong announced yesterday that he has given up his Invercargill mayoral ambitions, but will instead seek a 4th term as SDC mayor.

“I’ve been encouraged to re-stand before, and this time is more important than the last time, what with all the government reforms, projects and the Tiwai transition. Continuity is important.”

“It’s not indecisive, it’s that the role [of mayor] has got far more to it than I could have imagined, or what any other mayor could imagine. It’s the pressure of the role, not just what is required but dealing with the outside influences.”

Rob Scott, current Southland District councillor for Mararoa Waimea Ward who announced he would be running for mayor last year, says the announcement did not come as a shock.

“To be perfectly honest I wasn’t overly surprised, it was a gut feeling.”

“With Invercargill City race filling up with a lot more people, with more and more hats in the ring. I did think he might return to Southland” 

Scott says while the return of Tong to race does change things, he is not discouraged.

“It’s mixed it up a lot. Before, it was the three of us on a relatively even playing field but adding an incumbent mayor into the mix definitely changes things.”

“Bring it on, I say. I’m still confident and I firmly believe I’m the right man for the job.” 

Kirsty Pickett, a Te Anau businesswoman who announced her mayoral candidacy in mid-June, says she is bemused by the announcement. 

“It’s interesting that he has used the exact same reasoning here as he did for standing in Invercargill, to say that experience is required. 

“It’s bemusing, after six months of telling us he was standing in Invercargill. It would suggest that he thinks he can’t win there.”

Pickett says she disagrees with Tong’s assertion that an experienced mayor is required for Southland. 

“This is exactly the right time for a new mayor, for a fresh approach and strong leadership.”

“Originally, [Tong] said he would do no more than two terms, then he said three, then for the fourth term he said he would run for Invercargill and now he has flip-flopped on that. The ratepayers will see him as indecisive, and that’s the last thing we need.”

She says she is committed to the mayoral race.

“I thought for a long time, and very carefully about what would be required of me before I put my name forward.”

“I’m here, I’m committed, I believe I can bring something to the table that will serve Southland into the future.” 

Northern Southland farmer and former Federated Farmers president Geoffrey Young announced only last week that he will stand for the Southland District mayoralty.

He says the news of Tong re-entering the race is not entirely unexpected.

"There was a feeling of surprise, but I did think that given the number of people now standing for Invercargill that he might want to throw his hat back in the ring here."

Young says he is not concerned that Tong will impact his chances of wining the election.

"I'm quite comfortable standing against him. Gary's done three terms now and it's time for someone new, with a fresh perspective."

"I bring a strong rural voice. Southland is a primary industries based province, and certainly needs someone from the primary industries to lead."

Young says he welcomes different views being expressed in the mayoral race.

"We've all go our points of difference, and I think it's even better for the voters now, to have the options there," he says.

Tong says that ultimately, the outcome will be up to Southland ratepayers.

 “I’ve got to be honest, in the end it will be up to the voters. If they feel like they need a new mayor then all well and good, but it’s important for the region that we have that continuity.”

He says while he is now focusing on Southland, he hopes that Invercargill’s mayoral race will have a good outcome also.

“I would like to see Invercargill City step up in the governance side of things. We need to all work together, and that’s the same with Queenstown, Clutha etc., we all work so closely together.”

“You need to have that trust and respect there, not saying it isn’t there now, but you need it to be able to work together.”