The first Central Otago mayoral forum, hosted by Greypower, kicked off at the Alexandra District Club on Saturday (September 13).

The room was predominantly pensioners and rates increases were a hot topic.

One man asked if the future mayors would put security cameras in their homes at the expense of ratepayers, after a recent suggestion from Local Government New Zealand.

Tamah said, given she and her husband Matt had 30 years of combined policing behind them, “I think we can look after ourselves.”

Her opening statement to the room of around 80 people cut to the chase: “You are probably here because opening your rates has been a horrific experience,” she said.

Housing and affordability were top of Tamah’s list. She recalled that when she arrived in Alexandra with her family, you could buy a house for $280,000. That would now cost on average $713,000.

“A lot of people are being pushed out of the market.”

Tamah told the room that they needed to be smart about allowing developers to work in their district.

It was important they built strong communities, supported the rural sector, “and that our people have job opportunities.”

All three mayoral candidates made stronger transparency at council a priority. Teviot-based Mark Quinn said the community had no spirit and no say in the council.

“Our water is a disaster,” he continued to talk about the lime in Cromwell and the lack of water in Omakau over summer.

“There are too many people having too much to say and work’s not getting done.”

Tamah said she’d been looking into a ‘citizen’s assembly’ - something that had already been done in Whanganui, to help make community decisions.

The forum heard from Charlie Sanders of Cromwell, who said he wasn’t standing out of ambition, “but because I care deeply about Central Otago.”

He was concerned about the elderly “freezing in their homes” because they couldn’t afford to pay their rates, and wanted to look into council’s systems, attitudes and at the culture, to see what could be done.

“I will be the mayor of change,” he said.

Tamah suggested the community had lost some of its generosity, “because people are struggling to survive.”

She hinted at ‘green loans’ and the suggestion of cheaper rates for solar energy.

There were many questions from the floor on the Local Water Done Well issue.

Charlie joked: “We’ve been done well, and the cost will be four times what it is now.”

Colin Falconer stood up and spoke about his 25.5 percent increased rates bill, and questioned why that liability should be placed on him, using the example of council having to pay for bridge certification.

Tamah pointed out that 183 bridges were under review across the district and 30 had reached the end of their life - “some are that old they were built for horse and cart” - and were now used by fully laden trucks weighing hundreds of tonnes.

The candidates were asked their opinions on both the proposed Santana mine at Bendigo and the solar farm near Naseby.

Mark was against the mine and Charlie was for it. Tamah said she had her reservations and questioned, “has Palmerston become a thriving town?” for the nearby Macraes mine.

“The jury is out,” she said.

Voters can meet the candidates from the Cromwell ward and Otago Regional Council at the Cromwell Presbyterian Church on Tuesday (September 16), followed by the Maniototo Rugby Club rooms on Wednesday.

There is also an interactive evening for teenagers at Central Cinema in Alexandra on Wednesday October 8. Young people are encouraged to come and talk politics over pizza and connect with the candidates.

Check out more information on The Central App Election button.

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