h-member-login

MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER  header call 
Melody sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021454814
Nadia n.lewis@xtra.co.nz 021677978
Reporting: Julia news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 0274641673
 Accounts: Richard info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021678358

 

Archives

Time for candidates to step up

Otamatea was, last week, given the opportunity on four consecutive nights to get up close and personal with those who have put their names forward as candidates for Otamatea on the Kaipara District Council, Northland Regional Health Board, the Northland Regional Council and for the Kaipara Mayoralty.

Having seen many faces on billboards it was time to put names to those faces, listen to their backgrounds, abilities and ideals and then question any aspects which might be of concern in deciding who should be awarded the numbers 1, 2 and 3 on your voting papers.

Meetings at Paparoa, Maungaturoto, Kaiwaka and Mangawhai were well patronised, albeit light on those in the under forty age group. Generally speaking locals were keen to learn something of the personalities of those vying for the collective opportunity to steer the Kaipara further from the stormy waters of the past and into a breeze which may carry it on in steady progress.

Their intentions were similar in many ways: Regain the confidence of communities, have better communication with communities than has been in the past, identify priorities, and keep a prudent watch on finances. Such views are probably expounded at every such meeting throughout the country. It is entirely in the hands of the voters to evaluate and decide on those best qualified or suited to fit the bill.

Remember, voters only get one shot at this. If you’re buying a business it’s prudent to do due diligence and so it should be when choosing your representatives. Sometimes voters get it wrong but voting with the head is always better than voting with the heart, hence the reason for such meetings.

Some candidates have been there before and though experienced in the rudiments of council, how did they perform? Should they be given a second chance? Why should they be given a second chance? Kaipara is now a clean slate. Should it not proceed with a clean slate?

Alternatively, of the new faces, what business experience, acumen or other attributes do they bring to the table, because without basic business principles Kaipara could easily regress.

The first ten years of this century saw Kaipara going gradually downhill economically. Even if you do not believe it is on the upswing it must surely be acknowledged it is at least on an even keel. And given the growth principally in Mangawhai, but across much of the area, it needs a sound, dedicated and knowledgeable management team working closely together to manage that growth and continue that trend.

It won’t be an easy task, nor will it be swift, but gradual progress is good progress and that is all that should be expected. Kaipara is now a different place from ten or even five years ago and with the

influx of new residents it will continue to change bringing new challenges to a team that must be ready to meet them.

Has Kaipara learned from the past? That question will only be answered on October 8.

 
ABOUT US
  CHECK IT OUT
The Mangawhai Focus is the only 'Mangawhai' community Newspaper and is the paper of choice within the local area.

For more information on distribution and circulation please 
click here
 

Directory

Archives

Contact Us


 

 

 

FOLLOW US

facebook   twitter   174855-378

CONTACT US


Sales: 021 454814
  sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Editorial: 027 4641673
  news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Office: 021 678357
  info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz