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A fifth-generation Kaipara local, Dr Jason Smith, has become the new Mayor of Kaipara District Council in a by-election that concluded on February 17.
Dr Smith secured 3044 votes and his nearest rival Cr Peter Wethey got 2703 votes. Bruce Rogan came third with 1432 votes.
Dr Smith said he believes his campaign slogan, “Let’s have a fresh start” resonated with voters.
He said the Council has been very focussed in recent years on its debilitating debt but that was now down to manageable levels.
“We can now focus back on the community and making Kaipara stronger,” he says.
Dr Smith’s top priorities will be securing more residential and commercially zoned land.
“It’s about rolling out a welcome mat to investors – saying to them Kaipara is a great place to be, and we will make it easy for you to come and join our communities,” he said.
He said the strategy would bring in extra ratepayers that would help reduce Kaipara’s debt burden further and would stimulate the local economy – providing jobs for young people and creating “vibrant, thriving communities”.
“In five or 10 years’ time people will go ‘wow, look how Kaipara turned itself around’. I’m convinced of that,” he said.
Dr Smith was formerly the chief executive of the Kaipara Development Agency, responsible for the economic development of the Kaipara district from 2002 to 2005.
Prior to that, he studied under Professor Marilyn Waring at AUT to gain a doctorate specialising in economic development.
