Retirement and new faces as Council elections loom

If you didn’t already know it, 2022 is a local body election year in which the community gets to decide who will represent it at local board and Auckland Council level.

Hibiscus Coast residents will be able to vote for four representatives on the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, for two Albany Ward councillors and Mayor.

Although candidate nominations are not open until July, our local representatives have been considering their options for some time and it appears most will be standing again, with one notable exception.

Long serving local representative Janet Fitzgerald, who is currently a member of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, has decided not to put her name forward again.

Janet has been in local politics for more than 30 years – starting in 1991, when she was appointed to the Hibiscus Coast community board. In that time has served on Rodney District Council (1995-2000) as well as the local board, since 2013.

She is a dedicated campaigner for Penlink and had hoped to see it built while still in office. However, she says she is happy to see the project moving forward and funded.

The remaining three current Hibiscus representatives on the local board  – Gary Brown, Andy Dunn and Leanne Willis – all say they are planning to seek re-election.

Both Albany Ward councillors, John Watson and Wayne Walker, will stand again. They generally select running mates but have not yet confirmed who will stand with them this time. 

Last election, three of their team  – Brown, Dunn and Willis – were elected to the local board. 

Confident candidate

One of the first locals to put up his hand for Mayor and Albany Ward councillor is 28-year-old Red Beach resident Jake Law. He has been teaching for five years and grew up attending council events with his grandfather, former Rodney District Council Mayor John Law.

Election dates

• Candidate nominations open on July 15 and close on August 12, with the final list of candidates to be announced on August 17. • The election will be on Saturday, October 8 – held by postal vote. • Voting papers will be sent to all eligible voters from Friday, September 16.