Melanie Tavendale, a three-term Waitaki District Council representative and deputy mayor until 2022, yesterday confirmed she will run for Waitaki district mayor in the October local elections.
Ms Tavendale said she had considered it previously but after serving as deputy for two terms she stepped away in 2022 to reconsider her future.
The time now felt right to have a tilt.
"In a community sense, I think it’s time to build new relationships and to do things differently," she said.
Asked what differently might mean, Ms Tavendale she would like to see a more inclusive approach to council leadership.
"I’m just a very collaborative kind of leader," she said.
"I think it’s important to get a lot more out of our councillors and in community relationships than we do sometimes."
There had been "no arrangement" for the current mayor, Gary Kircher, to step aside to give her a free run, Ms Tavendale said.
"I wasn’t that keen to run against him coming off being deputy mayor."
However, she now felt ready to put her name in the hat.
It came at a time when the district was experiencing a range of external and internal pressures where a greater level of council transparency was needed, Ms Tavendale said.
"Without a doubt we’re in a very challenging place [now] between politics and community.
"I think the level of communication and how we go about things is really important now."
In terms of a vision, Ms Tavendale said it would be a matter of "seeing where things are at".
However, the need for current affordability while keeping an eye on the future were important to her.
"What needs to be recognised is loan funding just pushes the can down the road."
In that sense an intergenerational approach for service provision was important but it had to be tempered by the potential for that to "take away the future decision-making".
"It’s time to revisit that and live within our means, asking if it is a ‘must do’ or a want to do.
"I’m still a really strong supporter of bringing whatever services we can into our community.
"I just don’t believe they should all be ratepayer supported."
Ms Tavendale said the council should not be the sole funder for many activities but it needed to be "out fighting for our community".
Mr Kircher said he would be keeping to his April deadline to make a decision and Ms Tavendale’s announcement would not press him to declare now.
"I knew she was intending to stand and it doesn’t change my decision, my timeline.
"I’m certainly welcoming her putting her name forward — the more the merrier."
There were "two or three others" also considering entering the race.
"At the end of the day people choose who they think is best to represent them for the next three years.
"I will make my call in April ... it could be any day except for the first," he quipped.
However, Mr Kircher hinted his decision might hinge on providing continuity.
Big picture factors impacting local democracy including the complex government-driven Water Done Well reform, and the ongoing "transformation" of council services meant it was a crucial time for Waitaki.
"We’re working on a number of things, and I want to make sure we’ve given every opportunity to see them progress."
