Will there be no young blood in Community Board?

August 13th, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

With just three days left before nominations close for local body elections, the Motueka political scene is shaping up to see little change in the makeup of the Community Board but possibly some new blood as ward councillors.

Nomination forms received by Council so far include three of the four present Community Board members - David Ogilvie, Paul Hawkes and Cliff Satherley - and one new candidate, Annalouise Cole.

Only one form has been received for one of the three ward councillor positions - financial analyst Paul Blackham - although the well known environmental and social advocate Tara Forde and TDC's Environmental Education Officer Rob Francis have publicly announced their intentions to stand.

Council incumbents Barry Dowler and Jack Inglis have told this writer they will also be standing, and Eileen Wilkins has not yet made a definitive statement.

Concern has been expressed by many that no new younger people are putting themselves forward particularly for the Community Board, which acts as an advocate for the town in its dealings with Council and monitors Council work in the ward.

This writer has received phone calls from several older leaders afraid that with no younger representation the town may become more negatively minded and conservative, and lack vision for a better future.

Tara Forde told the Nelson Mail she's standing for Council because the Facebook generation needs better representation. She said young people were "not engaged in council issues" and struggled to understand the relevance of the local body elections, but she believed young people had many political concerns that were often not addressed by older politicians.

Progressive-thinking and much respected Councillor for Golden Bay Martine Bouillir, who is standing for Council again, said in a newsletter that "it would be good to see some new blood around the Tasman table and this is no disrespect to councillors who are long-standing".

"I admire anyone who has held a role as councillor or board member - no matter how much I may disagree with the politics of some of the councillors, they are in the main, there with good intention and I have come to appreciate each one. They have held the space when no-one else was putting their hands up.

"At the same time, I have been frustrated at the lack of creative future thinking and unwillingness to 'take a leap' on even the most innocuous issues.

"But times have changed and are changing rapidly and we need people who are up with the play, able to innovate and think outside the square, not afraid to be the 'naive inquirers' - they also need to be patient, determined, respectful and positive.

"Those who will make a difference don't go on so much about what they are against but what they are for and have to offer. You have to stay positive in this game or you will go under.

"To my mind, the ideal Tasman council table would be a balance of the older, more open-minded councillors for stability, historical knowledge and mentoring skills, and a good influx of new and varied people who can respect what has come before without fear of offering their fresh perspectives.

"I would encourage anyone who has been thinking about it but hesitating, to leap - there has never been a better time to get into local body politics with so much about to change on the horizon.

"The next 3 yrs will be pivotal and I don't think it is a stretch of the imagination to say that world politics will look as it never has before. 'Business as usual' is out the door and we need to be able to keep up with emerging trends without losing the good stuff we already have in abundance in our region.

"I'm very optimistic about our future. Yes, on one level it would appear the world is going to hell in a hand basket, but it seems we need that sort of 'squeezed into a corner' scenario before we are willing to change our thinking and take appropriate action.

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