04 June 2010

MEDIA RELEASE
MICHAEL LAWS
MAYOR
WANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL
DECISION ON WANGANUI MAYORALTY 2010

Today I am releasing my decision on contesting the Wanganui District Council mayoralty at the 2010 local body elections.

Before I do so, it is worth recalling why I originally decided to contest the mayoralty in 2004, and what my aims and aspirations were for both the mayoralty and for Wanganui.

I have never regarded the mayoralty as a job.

I need neither the status nor the salary, and donate the mayor’s salary because I am employed as a broadcaster, writer and national newspaper columnist.

My original aim was to serve just one term because I believed that the Wanganui council required significant and substantial change. More importantly, I perceived that the Wanganui community was disheartened by a couple of decades of economic reverses and was accepting of a lesser fate.

My aims were very simple:

* to remake council,

* to empower the average Wanganui citizen in the council’s decision-making process,

* to create new amenities that would materially improve the quality of life of our citizens,

* to restore Wanganui’s sense of purpose and self confidence.

After three years, I reasoned that we had almost achieved all those goals. I was persuaded, against my initial judgment, to stand for a second term.

I thank the people of Wanganui for endorsing that decision in 2007. I was returned with 55% of the vote in the second highest local body turn out in New Zealand. That gave me the mandate and the confidence to finish the job.

There can be no question that Wanganui is a better place – and the council a more efficient and effective organisation – as a result of the past six years of policy-making, politicking and persuasion.

I am very proud of my role in that transition, and very appreciative of the elected officials who assisted me in doing so. I may have been the leader and chairman of council but, ultimately, I needed supportive colleagues to make things happen.

And, boy, have we made things happen!

Some of the highlights include;

• the lowest annual rate rises in NZ over the past 6 years
• the development of the riverfront and walkway
• the building of the Splash Centre extension
• the revamping of Wanganui’s airport
• the introduction of annual referenda
• the saving of Wanganui’s tertiary Glass School
• the passage of the groundbreaking anti-gang legislation
• the creation of a Youth Council
• the creation of a community wide family friendly strategy
• the upgrading of Virginia Lake and our premier parks
• the empowering of the Rural Community Board
• hosting the world premiere of ‘River Queen’
• creating the ‘Mayoral Mile’ and other unique events
• giving councilors increased powers and ‘mini-mayor’ status
• successfully resisting the NZ Geographic Board’s decision to rename Wanganui
• the creation of anti-graffiti and anti-litter teams
• the creation of an international sculpture competition
• the soon-to-be-completed Visitor Centre
• the soon-to-be-completed Southern Entranceway
• the establishment of a nationwide, televised Wanganui promotional campaign

It is a remarkable number of achievements and we have remade Wanganui over the past six years.

Surveys indicate that Wanganui people consider that their quality of life is better now – and improving – since the first time the question was asked in community surveys in 1999. At that time almost a half of Wanganui residents said that they would leave the city if an opportunity presented itself.

Eleven years later and we are proud of our beautiful city, confident about ourselves and prepared to lead the nation on issues like anti-gang legislation and combating anti-social behaviour.

The 2010 Decision

In making today’s decision, I must note that the overwhelming majority of people who discussed this issue with me urged me to run again.

Their argument was that there could be no slackening in Wanganui’s effort or energy in reasserting itself as a premier provincial city. And that my leadership was a critical part of that role.

Political polling has recently been completed as to whether that assessment is shared by the wider community. The Versus Research poll, completed last month, and which successfully predicted the 2007 mayoral result, gave me a 16 point lead over the nearest likely contender. That was roughly the result of 2007.

However other factors have played a greater role in today’s announcement.

First and foremost, my family.

I have three wonderful young children – Lucy (5), Zoe (3) and Theo (1) – and to be honest, they are my life. I love and adore them. My older children James and Rachel are now an important part of our daily lives, and I am a grandfather to Jack and Harry.

Almost losing Lucy to leukemia two years ago had a profound effect upon how I view fatherhood. It reminded me that there is no role anywhere near as important. And that everything else is inconsequential by comparison.

The mayoralty, plus my paying jobs, have made me a very busy person.

Simply, I want to spend more time with my family and children. They deserve nothing less.

Second, there is a personal sense of ‘mission accomplished’.

Wanganui is heading in the right direction. We are feeling good about ourselves and we realize that we don’t need to accept fate. That we can manage our own destiny.

There is a good leadership team within the council’s senior management.

And our Ten Year Plan 2009-19 confirms the decisions made over the past six years and has strong community buy-in.

There are now a good number of experienced people who can put up their hands, run for mayor, and successfully manage the next three years.

Third, I can still play a leadership role – if that is what the community wishes.

For all the above reasons, I will be retiring from the Wanganui mayoralty come October 2010.

At this time, I intend to make myself available for both the district council and DHB elections in October. These are not onerous time commitments. I also note the successful precedent and transition of former Christchurch mayor Vicki Buck to a Christchurch city councillor.

I am still dedicated to improving our city and safeguarding our health services. I will offer constructive, positive experience and energy to assist Wanganui’s future.

Finally, thank you for the wonderful opportunity to serve Wanganui as mayor for this past six years.

It has been a fantastic experience and the rarest of privileges.

We live in a great city. Let us never forget that. Nor the need to keep it that way.

ENDS

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