Former Waikato District councillor Aksel Bech has announced a second, all-or-nothing bid for the mayoralty, citing skyrocketing rates and a need for systemic change in local government.
Former Waikato Housing Initiative chair Aksel Bech, out on his own as the Housing Czar, chats to Brian Perry Charitable Trust chair Simon Perry about Peake Mews two years ago
“Rates unaffordability has reached a tipping point,” Bech said. “It’s time for a reset.”
Following his announcement, the current Tamahere Woodlands councillor Mike Keir withdrew his own nomination for mayor, throwing his support behind Bech, who was the Tamahere representative on the Ngāruawāhia-based council for six years until 2022 and three years as deputy mayor under Allan Sanson.
Mike Keir
Bech said block voting cost him the mayoralty. Jacqui Church, a third term councillor for Pōkeno, Tūākau and the rural areas bordering Auckland, picked up a lot of her votes in three Franklin booths.
Bech became an affordable housing advocate, a cause he believes is central to broader social well-being.
“Housing is at the core of so many other well-being issues like education, crime, health, social isolation … if you don’t have a place to call home, so many other things can go wrong.
“Our communities need voice, choice and control, right? And that’s likely to be a key driver for me. I can say that more succinctly than I could before,” he said.
Then Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest, watched by l-r Waikato deputy mayor Aksel Bech, Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate and River Trust chair Simon Perry, says the river ride will bring people from all over the country to the district.
Danish-born Bech, 60, migrated to New Zealand as a teenager. He has a science degree from Massey University and a master’s degree in social science from Waikato University.
His professional background spans human resources, project management, and marketing. He entered local politics in 2016 after serving on school boards and the Tamahere Community Committee.
Bech supports collaborative cost-saving initiatives, such as the council-controlled water organisation formed with Hamilton City Council. However, he believes more efficiencies are possible.
“And why can’t we licence food trucks the same way? Why not review building inspections for savings?”
Jacqui Church – Waikato mayor
He says local government costs are out of control and parochialism is a luxury the country could no longer afford.
He pointed to Future Proof, a growth strategy comprising councils from Hamilton, Matamata-Piako, Waipā and Waikato districts, Waikato Regional Council, iwi and central government.
Each council had its own chief executive, a chief financial officer and elected members. Future Proof should be looking at consolidating those and empowering the community.
Bech argues that local government has drifted from its purpose.
“It should be the servant of communities rather than the master. We need to strengthen community committees and boards.”
Bech was critical of Jacqui Church’s leadership, citing a sharp rise in council debt — from $178.8 million to nearly double in just over two years — and an expanded executive leadership team, from six to 11.
“I campaigned on this three years ago. I warned that we were heading into a period of complex, costly decisions.”
He wants to look at alternative infrastructure funding models, including public-private partnerships and local government bonds.
Bech plans to talk to residents in the north of the district – places that voted for Church and not him.
“A lot of the Aucklanders who have moved down to Pōkeno are now paying two to three times more in rates than they were.”
Aksel Bech
