Grey Power Te Awamutu president Michael Cullen chaired the meeting.
Long serving Waipā District councillor Marcus Gower has thrown his support behind Susan O’Regan as mayor.
Grey Power Te Awamutu president Michael Cullen chaired the meeting. Photo: Jesse Wood
Gower, first elected in 2010 for Te Awamutu, said under O’Regan’s leadership, many tough decisions had been made to improve the district.
Susan O’Regan .
Speaking to more than 100 people at the Grey Power Te Awamutu ‘meet the candidates’ event held at Waipā Workingmen’s Club last week, Gower described the past three years as “pretty hard”.
“But under Susan’s leadership we’ve managed some very difficult decisions. We’ve landed our long term plan and we have our waters company that’s about to be started.
“Council is going to be a completely different beast in the next three years,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting change. We need people who are going to support our leaders and work constructively together.
Regional council candidate Garry Reymer stood up for the rates control team. Photo: Jesse Wood
Candidates for Waipā mayor, Te Awamutu-Kihikihi, Pirongia-Kakepuku and Waipā Māori wards, Waikato Regional Council, and the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board were invited to the Michael Cullen-chaired meeting.
Andrew MacPherson
Former Waikato Regional councillor Andrew MacPherson, who stood down three years ago and is not re-standing, took the microphone and criticised the Rates Control team – a ticket of eight candidates including Garry Reymer and Clyde Graf in Waipā-King Country.
“I served on the regional council, and I’ve had to listen to the rates control group tell you a load of nonsense,” MacPherson said.
“I was part of the council where we decided to have zero rates increase during the Covid pandemic and that caused damage.
“The rates control group is being fast and furious with the truth.”
Les Bennett – 2025
Pirongia and Kakepuku candidate Les Bennett asked if a member of the team would like a right of reply to MacPherson, which Reymer accepted.
“It’s very disappointing that was allowed to happen. It’s straight up politicking, we can look at these numbers ourselves,” Reymer said.
“I’m part of the rates control team. You can take us, or you can leave us as you like. We’re like any group; we don’t agree on everything that each one of us stand for. We can have our own minds and our own opinions.
“But the fact of the matter is, it depends how you want to look at the numbers. I’ve got the numbers in front of me here. These figures came from the chief executive.”
Māori Ward candidate Dale-Maree Morgan then lifted the mood, leading the audience in a rendition of Tūtira mai ngā iwi.
Dale-Maree Morgan lifted the mood with a song. Photo: Jesse Wood
Councillor Marcus Gower threw his support behind the incumbent mayor. Photo: Jesse Wood
