The News asked candidates to provide us with no more than 30 words on why they were standing for public office and what one bit of difference would they want to make if elected.
Some provided more than we asked for, some were repetitive, so we cropped them back. Here is what they had to say.
Waipā mayor
Susan O’Regan: Public service is in my DNA. Local government shapes people’s everyday lives and I’m committed to improving it, and giving back through leadership grounded in care, integrity and experience.
Striking the right balance – delivering the quality services Waipā expects today while maintaining financial discipline and making strategic, future focused decisions that build a stronger district for generations to come.
Susan O’Regan – 2025
Mike Pettit: I’m standing for mayor because I can enhance Waipā, through a strong collaborative leadership approach, focused on building stronger community connection and council accountability. Relationship, results, realism; together is better.
As mayor, lead the district, ensuring we end double digit rate rises, through making savings within council; while being smarter at how we scope and fund infrastructure and amenity projects.
Mike Pettit -2025
Clare St Pierre: I care deeply about this district where I was born and want a council that does better at the basics. I am offering my abilities to achieve those outcomes.
Clare St Pierre – 2025
Fix the finances so that we don’t have those large rates rises, debt is well managed, and alternative financing approaches and new revenue streams are available to council.
Waipā Māori ward
Dale-Maree Morgan: Māori-wards = a tangible step in honouring Te Tiriti. I’ll continue my commitment to strengthening relationships, inclusive decision-making, genuine community engagement.
Continuing to show, Māori wards are a valued addition, in making local government a better space, for those who will come after us.
Dale-Maree Morgan – 2025
Yvonne Waho: I stand with a genuine commitment to ensure our voices are heard and represented with integrity, connection, and purpose.
I want to help shape decisions that reflect our people’s aspirations — creating positive change and pathways for our mokopuna.
Yvonne Waho – 2025
Waikato Regional Council
Clyde Graf: Frustration over skyrocketing rates, costly bureaucracy, and the insidious creep toward co-governance in water management. To tackle this, nine of us have formed the Rates Control Team which I want to be part of to rein in the reckless spending.
Clyde Graf – 2025
Stuart Kneebone: To offer my experience and knowledge of regional council to ensure we are adding value for ratepayers and playing our part to make the Waikato a better place for everyone.
Work constructively with central government to apply evidence based decision making, ensuring the pending reforms to local government work. Ratepayers are entitled to effective local government that delivers value.
Stuart Kneebone – 2025
Garry Reymer: Rates are running very high across the region and more costs coming down the line with Local Government reform and Plan Change 1. Navigating these will take careful managers with good business skills.
Ensure that rate increases never exceed the rate of inflation. This may involve total reform of local governance.
Garry Reymer – 2025
Liz Stolwyk: I have connections, experience, credibility. I’ll lead conversations around amalgamation, red-tape, transport and rates. With years of business experience, I will keep Waikato on-track as the economic powerhouse of New Zealand.
Experience counts, governance matters. I’m standing to provide Waipā/King Country with real visible leadership. Running a dairy farm and event tourism business, I want to reduce bureaucracy to grow Waikato.
Liz Stolwyk – 2025
