The Central App asked the seven candidates for four seats on Otago Regional Council’s (ORC) Dunstan constituency about their community track record.

When have you stood up for our community? What exactly did you do, who did you bring with you, and what changed as a result?

Here’s how they responded:

Ben Farrell:

“I have previously stood up for the Wānaka community within the bounds of my professional constraints as an independent planning expert. For example, I supported in Court (as an expert witness) the 400 or so community residents who opposed the location of the Wānaka Watersports Facility. I put my professional reputation on the line for members of the Wānaka community. We lost that case. It hurts a bit as I still [believe] there were better alternative locations. However, the Court did make some recommendations based on my evidence and ultimately I respect the Court’s decision which found in favour of the many locals who supported the current location.

"I have also supported, albeit with professional advice behind the scenes, Otago Fish and Game in its management over the Bullock Creek wetland including the impacts of housing development around it.”

Neil Gillespie:

“Like many people in our community, I’ve had a long involvement in community related groups/organisations like basketball referring, school board of trustees, hockey umpiring, swimming officiating, and the Cromwell Resource Centre Trust. The most significant has been the 32 years as a member of the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Brigade (almost 14 years as the secretary and the last 18 years as an officer, deputy chief and currently chief fire officer) and as a member of the Cromwell Community Board since 1998 (chair 2001 – 2019) and a district councillor since 2001 (deputy mayor since 2010).

"All these roles have meant that I’ve been part of a team that has worked for the appropriate community outcomes – I’ve brought a pragmatic, common sense approach based on a knowledge of local government and governance.”

Matt Hollyer:

“My community track record includes volunteering in sports for the last 15 years - coaching or managing youth in cricket, ice hockey, volleyball - a committee member for 10 years on the Queenstown Cricket Club and [I] established the Whakatipu Sports & Recreation Hub. The Hub aimed to bring a shared sports clubrooms facility to the Whakatipu and provide support services for volunteers in sports groups.

"Through my work with the Southern Lakes Sanctuary I have stood up for our community in co-founding and then running the Wakatipu Conservation Alliance. The Alliance is an informal network of over 20 community conservation groups, and together with supporters from Wānaka, I led the development of, and submissions to, ORC to introduce a $2M Landscape Scale Conservation fund that was adopted in the 2024 annual plan. It is being rolled out for applications this year and has the potential to provide sustained environmental impact for improving biodiversity that will have a long lasting impact across the region.

"From 2013 I also spent six years as a director of Destination Queenstown, five of the years as chair. I stood up for many issues affecting the promotion of tourism to the region, including initial conversations with council and government on introducing a visitor bed levy/tax (something that pleasingly has resurfaced) and the concept of collaborating with Lake Wānaka Tourism (which didn't occur during my tenure, but which has subsequently eventuated).”

Gary Kelliher:

“I believe I am standing up for my community each time I am in a council meeting. Key times though include voting against rates increases in annual plans, and taking a strong stance against the ideology filled draft Land and Water Plan that the Minister eventually halted at the last minute.”

Michael Laws:

“I've had a range of elected roles - as an MP, mayor and most recently as an elected ORC councillor. Being unafraid of saying 'No' to bad or costly staff proposals,and actively campaigning to assert your community's best interests, have always been a feature of my leadership responsibilities. On the positive/creative side - I've gained funding for lagarosiphon control in Lake Dunstan, exposed inadequate monitoring of wastewater treatment plants (which are now regularly monitored by the ORC), exposed over $5M of secret payments to iwi controlled entities, fought the $65M HQ building being erected in Dunedin, outlined the doubling of ORC staff numbers over the past five years, promoted a more effective pest control policy (still not there, on that one), and sought to improve local decision-making.

"We have much to do, still, in all the above areas but reversing the ORC's rapacity for our region's ratepayer monies will be a priority. So too creating a more democratic and accountable ORC.”

ORC Dunstan Constituency candidates (clockwise from top): Michael Laws, Gary Kelliher, Nicky Rhodes, Ben Farrell, Matt Hollyer, Neil Gillespie, and Amie Pont. Images: Supplied

Amie Pont:

“Many may think I’m a small fish in a big pond running for ORC but as I was told yesterday, I ‘swim pretty fast’. I have worked hard for my community for over 20 years and running for ORC is the natural progression in my passion to serve. I have stood up for my community constantly during that time whether it was supporting our Art Deco festivals, promotions group, business group, our local radio station, local civil defence planning, funding applications, community and economic development roles and consultation, freshwater catchment work, kapa haka, or as chair of Māniatoto Community Arts & Cultural Incorporated, I have constantly held the best interest of the community and the whenua/land at heart…   

"Most recently I was able to speak on behalf of many people in our community at the recent Helios Solar Farm hearing. In a small area, it is often difficult to share an opinion in fear of offending your fellow community members, friends and /or family. I attended the full hearing, was able to feed back to the panel on issues raised by Helios the day prior and tabled a last-minute petition of 300 names of people concerned at the size and location of the farm. Many of the signatories did not submit or feared sharing their opinion publicly. There is real concern that if we progress large solar farm development along our tourist routes and main roads, we may end up with a substantial number in Central Otago. Solar has its place - on roofs, in highly populated areas where it is close to where it’s needed most. We are still waiting for the decision by CODC but it will still need to go to ORC for additional consent. Where was our wider district planning in all these solar farm consent applications?

"I spoke to my submission to ORC on transport through rural areas; endorsing feedback gained from the community via Facebook. This included issues such as how we can ensure outlying areas are ready for moving people from pressure areas such as Queenstown through to Dunedin via Māniatoto or Roxburgh. What needs and options do we have for public transport once in the smaller towns and how will residents in rural areas be able to access family, healthcare, shopping etc in our larger centres? Plans to develop public transport in Wānaka have progressed which is great but I will continue to advocate for this type of forward thinking…

"CODC announced the potential divestment of 11 Māniatoto buildings and the community requested a chance to address and evaluate pros and cons before the submissions period opened. As chair of the Māniatoto Community Arts Council, alongside Rural Art Deco Maniototo Inc, we pulled together a public meeting attended by over 50 members of the community and community groups/townships went away with plans and extra time to prepare. The community appreciated the assistance as it was a lot of work for our volunteers. It was a chance to assess usage of community owned buildings considering earthquake strengthening but also showed we need to have a stronger voice at a district planning level. Many buildings were retained, and others are now progressing alternatives, but we are probably now facing the issue of paying the rates to keep the buildings…

"In 2021, it was confirmed once again that Maniototo is a Māori word but had become spelt incorrectly. Two surveys (one informal survey and one run deep within the CODC website) both came back 50/50 which was a surprise to many but not to me. Using the correct spelling had already been discussed in the 1920s and 50s so it was time for the mana of Māniatoto to be restored. The Maniototo Community Board and CODC voted against using the correct spelling to the Board or the Ward however the CODC now use Māniatoto in their everyday communications (unless formally named otherwise). Many have started to pronounce Māniatoto correctly and it is used far more often such as in our community magazine, Positively Māniatoto. I did not expect full conversion but instead the start of wider adoption, which is being achieved…

"A particularly memorable advocacy campaign was, as founder of the ‘Maniototo Business Group’ co-ordinating the community response on behalf of residents, local business, community groups and visitors alike when Westpac announced shutting Ranfurly’s only bank. The community came out in protest with signs, petitions, media releases, news segments and much more. Although we lost the bank, the vocal campaign managed to secure the town a smart Eftpos machine which was a compromise at least. Small wins.

I will stand up for what is right. A rural voice at a regional level.”

Nicky Rhodes:

“I am new to local politics - I have spent the past 20 years working away from home and not had capacity to be involved. This has changed in the past couple of years, which has given me time to consider how I can contribute.”