Whether it was Shirley Julian’s sausage rolls and carrot cake supplied to celebrate her 95th birthday or the promise of a cracking mayoral debate, the reason for the crowd is debatable.
After the Lauriston Village Mayoral Debate, from left Susan O’Regan, Mike Pettit, Clare St Pierre and MC Peter Carr. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
But what is certain is that more than 120 people turned up at Arvida Lauriston Park retirement village in Leamington on Monday – 40 more than the same event three years ago.
This time, residents heard from mayoral candidates Susan O’Regan, Clare St Pierre, and Mike Pettit, who delivered familiar messages heard at other gatherings.
MC Peter Carr, left, introduces the rules of engagement at the Arvida Lauriston Retirement Village mayoral debate with Mike Pettit, Clare St Pierre and Susan O’Regan ready for action. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Pettit, after two terms on council and three on the community board, said he wanted to lift accountability and no longer wanted to be “a cog inside the wheel.”
“I’m putting my hand up to lead us out of it. I know how to lead. If you want change, help me.”
St Pierre, a four-term councillor, said her track record spoke for itself.
“I’m not about talk,” she said, pledging to apply her financial skills to move Waipā forward, empower communities, and lead the Cambridge Connections project.
O’Regan reflected on her three years as mayor, saying she had always fronted, acted with integrity and courage, offered steady, thoughtful and future-focused leadership that was about a long-term vision and not just about today’s decisions.
Anne Devine asks a question about the availability of inclusionary housing at the Lauriston Village Mayoral Debate. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Residents asked about speed bumps, cycleways, the Newcombe Rd quarry, inclusionary housing, use of consultants, a third bridge over the Waikato River, and post-water reform amalgamations.
There was a noticeable gasp when it was revealed that a location for the third bridge won’t be identified until September 2026, and construction could take another 14 years to begin.
Before the debate began, South African manager Tanya Lindsay arrived wearing a Springbok jersey admitting the previous week’s loss against the All Blacks had been hard going but she was ready to enjoy this one.
South African Arvida Lauriston Village manager Tanya Lindsay wearing a South African jersey. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Former schoolteacher Bev Woolley made a heartfelt plug for the wrybill as New Zealand Bird of the Year. The wrybill is the only bird in the world with a bill bent sideways – always to the right. Its population is declining and at threat. Before moving to Lauriston, Woolley was a founding member of the Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists’ Trust where she observed the birds in the Firth of Thames.
It will be interesting to see who gets more votes from residents – the wrybill or the mayoral hopefuls.
Wrybill. Photo: Ian Southey
The latest Waipā Residents Survey got a mention.
See: Waipa Residents Survey 2024-25
Council communications staff put such a positive spin on it that those who had already read it went back to check if they had the right version.
The executive summary used soft language to neutralise bad news, reframed deterioration as stability, minor improvements as success and widespread neutrality as “not dissatisfied”.
The full report showed the council’s performance and reputation are slipping across key measures: satisfaction, trust, leadership, value for money, and financial management.
This decline has occurred under all three mayoral candidates’ watch. Pettit and St Pierre have now publicly stated Waipā should be a top-performing district with no excuses.
O’Regan has regularly fronted on the results, admitting to The News two years ago that she was frustrated by the dissatisfaction and now believes her consistent leadership is needed to pull the district through.
One of the tools the council uses to communicate with residents – after pulling information only reports from agendas – is a publication called On the Radar.
See: On the Waipa Radar – here is the news in secret
It is sent to the mayor, councillors, community board members and senior council staff. The News has had to request it twice under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA).
It is now up to issue number 16. We have issues 1-15 up online and will request the latest one, which went out last week.
Interestingly, it is still being sent to current councillors and community board members but not to candidates standing for election.
The News believes that gives incumbents an unfair advantage.
Your view to [email protected]
At recent meetings, the public grumbled about the acronyms used by councillors and candidates.
“What is an LTP?” one woman asked us.
“It’s a Long Term Plan,” we said.
And then there’s cadence. In a workshop review last week, council staff referred to a “review of meeting cadence” as part of a continuous improvement initiative. We reached for the Oxford Dictionary, thinking it had something to do with music – not meetings.
Turns out it does mean rhythm. But when the local newspaper must look it up, you have to wonder about its use.
Karen Morris at the Salvation Army store opening.
Finally, candidates are keeping in touch, but it was not until the weekend that we caught up with Karen Morris, who is standing for Cambridge Community Board.
She promised to send us something – and sure enough a couple of hours later, we received a photo of her at the Salvation Army Store opening.
No words. Just a photo.
Birthday girl Shirley Julian shouted morning tea at the Lauriston Village Mayoral Debate for her 95th birthday. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Birthday girl Shirley Julian shouted morning tea at the Lauriston Village Mayoral Debate for her 95th birthday. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
After the Lauriston Village Mayoral Debate, from left Susan O’Regan, Mike Pettit, Clare St Pierre and MC Peter Carr. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
