Waitomo mayor John Robertson is now facing three contenders for the district’s mayoral chains.
Taharoa life coach and business mentor Natasha Willison-Reardon rang Robertson to say she was standing against him in the upcoming election.
Robertson is also facing competition from rural councillor Janette Osborne and council property officer Richard Ross.
The News has sought comment from Willison-Reardon.
Fellow candidate – assuming they follow through an are nominated – Osborne wrote on Willison-Reardon’s social media page she was “genuinely thrilled to see you standing”.
“Choice is good. You bring a lot to any table you sit at and have a strong voice for the community. I look forward to hearing more of your views and ideas over the next few months and hope that we may end up sitting around the same table in whichever capacity the people may decide. We do need change.”
Elsewhere, rural Waitomo councillor and deputy mayor Allan Goddard, who was first elected in 2010, has told The News he was standing for re-election. First term urban councillors Dan Tasker and Eady Manawaiti also plan to stand again.
After three terms urban councillor Janene New is retiring from politics.
“There’s an opportunity for others to participate in local government,” New said.
Asked about the biggest challenge over her nine years, New said: “It’s always fiscal. Trying to achieve all that you want to achieve while keeping in mind the ratepayers pay for it.”
The opening of the Gallagher Recreation Centre in Eketone Street, Te Kūiti, in 2023 was one of New’s proudest moments, she said. The council worked with Te Kūiti High School and Ngāti Rora on the project.
One of the council’s biggest challenges, she said, was keeping abreast of constantly changing Government policy such as Three Waters pivoting to Local Water Done Well.
At Ōtorohanga District Council, incumbent Kio Kio-Korakonui ward councillor Rodney Dow and Wharepuhanga ward councillor Cathy Prendergast will be in the battle for the mayoral chains after Max Baxter steps down.
Ōtorohanga ward councillor Katrina Christison is standing for re-election.
“As for the mayoralty, I won’t be putting my name forward,” she said. “I’d prefer not to split the vote.”
Kawhia-Tihiroa Ward councillor Kit Jeffries who came within 105 votes of winning the 2022 mayoral race against Baxter after a stint as councillor also plans to stand again for council. He also served on the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee.
Deputy mayor Annette Williams has signalled she will stand down with mayor Baxter in October. Williams said she had been asked if she was standing for council and mayor.
“It’s nice to know that people would support my nomination,” she said.
“But after 12 years of making space for Ōtorohanga District Council and the community I would like to have more time to consider opportunities that have had to be put to one side or turned down in business and private life.”
Waipā ward councillor Roy Johnson, who voted against replacing the council’s old kiwi logo with the new nest logo for fear of slighting Ōtorohanga Kiwi House, is also standing down.
“I have done 15 years,” he said. “Moving over for new blood to have the opportunity.”
