ISSUES & CONCERNS
Time for change, the issues, the dilemma
Rates affordability and financial responsibility
Keeping rates affordable and fair is really important to me because I know how much it affects families, local businesses and those on fixed incomes. A whopping 35% increase in City and 53% increase in regional rates in 5 years is unsustainable. I believe Council must take full responsibility for its spending, approving 14 unbudgeted activities (2019-2022) was imprudent stewardship - avoiding surprises and unplanned costs that push rates up is a priority for me.
I’m committed to strong financial discipline, so we maintain essential services without placing extra rate burden on our community. If management come to me asking for an unbudgeted item, I'll be asking what will be cut from elsewhere in the budget.
Affordable housing
Napier needs more affordable homes, especially for families, first-home buyers, and people needing social housing. That means working with developers, iwi, and community groups to create neighbourhoods where people want to live and belong. I will support building safe, warm, and affordable housing that meets our community’s real needs by ensuring Council's systems and processes are quick and efficient, additionally I propose turning Lagoon Farm into available land for housing providing an income for the City from that land not an ongoing burden on ratepayers.
A thriving local economy depends on supporting small businesses and creating good jobs. I want to help attract investment, encourage innovation, and back local industries that provide opportunities for our people. By partnering with business leaders, development agencies and the tourism sector, we can grow a stronger economy that benefits everyone.
Jobs and local business
Local Water Done Well (replacing Three Waters)
Napier is part of the Local Water Done Well programme — a regional approach that puts our community at the heart of managing water services. This means safe, reliable, and affordable water, delivered with respect for our environment. I support this because through consultation our community said your preference was the regional model, it balances essential upgrades with local control and sustainability.
I will continue to ensure that each network meets its own costs and doesn't subsidise another network with higher costs.
Infrastructure and assets
Our roads, wastewater systems, stormwater, playgrounds, sports fields, reserves, museums and library's all need ongoing investment to keep pace with use, urban growth and climate challenges. I’m committed to making sure these vital services are well planned, properly funded, and maintained so Napier can grow safely and sustainably. Affordability means different things to different users; I will welcome you to express your opinion each year when Council sets annual budgets and your rates.
Community
Building safe, healthy, and connected communities is close to my heart. I support investing in youth and social activities and improving public safety. I have pushed for fully contestable multi-year grants schemes enabling community organisations to develop and deliver meaningful programmes and outcomes for our community.
Strong community networks help make Napier a place we’re all proud to call home.
Environmental protection
Napier’s natural environment is one of our greatest strengths. I’m passionate about protecting our parks, coastline, waterways, and green spaces. We need smart growth that preserves these treasures for future generations.
If you elected me to be Mayor, my mayoralty will all be about:
- serving you
- making the best decisions for the future of Napier
- ensuring a positive future blue print is inherited by my successors
- making civic leadership a role that is attractive to capable and competent residents and candidates
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I know what it takes to be a good competent public servant, I will bring that experience to the Mayoralty and set high expectations for Councillors and higher levels of collaboration with partner organisations.
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Napier, if you care, don't split the vote, vote to change the mayor,
vote only for Nigel Simpson
Big issues for residents are:
- Rates affordability - if I am Mayor, there will be no unbudgeted items.
- Getting things done - if I am Mayor, a prioritised delivery programme will be established immediately.
- Efficiency and effectiveness Governance to Delivery - I will streamline decision making.
- Accessibility, being connected with our community - I will invite leaders to meet with Council.
- Transparency - I will publicly list workshop subjects and which Councillors are attending meetings.
- Safety and security in the suburbs - I have advocated for better social outcomes and police presence.
- Q&A - Answers to frequently asked questions
Efficiency and effectiveness - procrastination and flip-flopping at the Council table cost ratepayers millions of dollars at a time (look at the pool $43M in 2019 could blow out to $100+M) indecisiveness causes confusion for staff (they don't know where to prioritise their time and what to get done) and can cause stress, anxiety or frustration for residents (think of the anxiety our pensioner housing tenants experienced over years while Council reviewed and then considered whether to retain or sell their homes, it was cruel really). The absence of good Civic Leadership failed to empathise and prioritise action to mitigate a considerable period of anxiety for these elderly residents.
.......... soon I will post further thoughts on efficiency, exploring how simple change will improve effectiveness.
Lets address my concerns about ‘the culture’ of the City Council and what it is that concerns me and why change would be a good thing?
- Culture - I will ensure that elected members focus on Governance and Strategy not interfering in delivery.
- Democracy - It is important that you can have your say, and that you genuinely feel heard.
- Change - I will introduce a new Governance structure focused on Long-Term-Plan activity delivery.
- Apathy - I will lead a Council that genuinely engages with a wider range of our community.
- Group think - I will welcome difference of opinion in decision making and ideas from left field.
- Independence and freedom of speech - I will not tolerate cancel culture on a Council I lead.
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My experience over thirty years across fifteen local government organisations working with governance, observing it, facilitating it, doing it and having completed Master level studies in governance, strategy and leadership, I have witnessed good and bad. I am fortunate that I can draw on these experiences to ensure Napier shifts to best practice governance after the election, if you elect me Mayor.
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I have led large complicated multijurisdictional organisations. I understand the need for inter-organisational collaboration and how to draw upon the capacity of other organisations to achieve outcomes. Your 'Council' can not operate in isolation or in a self-righteous way. Change is needed.
There's more to come, so come back for updates. ;)
