Deputy mayor to run for Mangawhai-Kaiwaka ward

28 Mar, 2022

JULIA WADE

With council elections opening for candidate registration in July, interested individuals are currently considering the idea of stepping into local politics while seasoned councillors are also pondering their next move.

One such experienced person, Kaipara District Council (KDC) deputy mayor and current Otamatea ward councillor, Anna Curnow, has already taken a stand, announcing her intention recently for a seat in the Mangawhai-Kaiwaka ward, and says her reasons for the change ‘are really quite simple’.

“I actually spend a lot of time in Mangawhai and feel very close to the community. Being closely involved with the District Plan review has really clarified for me the issues that the community face here, growth has not been managed well for a long time,” she says.

“The Spatial Planning process crystalised the views the community have about what a better planned town could look like and I’m excited to focus more on that. We can’t prevent growth, but we can plan better for it, in the interests of the people who live here now, and for those who are coming.”

Curnow says her vision for Mangawhai-Kaiwaka reflect the community’s aspirations highlighted in the Spatial Planning process, with hopes for the area to become ‘a place you can live a whole life well’.

“Where you can go to good schools, engage in a full range of sport and recreation activities. A place where young people can stay and get decent jobs with prospects, start businesses and families, and have great social lives and afford quality homes. Then as they get older, have the possibility to downsize, perhaps move into a retirement village or a medically supported facility, all while maintaining your local social and family connections,” she says.

“People should be able to live their whole lives here if they so desire, without having to leave because something doesn’t fit. Council’s role should be to enable that.”

A Kaipara resident for 13 years, Curnow raised her family in rural Mangawhai and for the last five years, divides her time between her home in Mangawhai Heads and her partner’s Ruawai farm.

The former business manager, who has experience in both corporate and not-for-profit sectors, was first elected to KDC in 2016, holding the position of chair for the Mangawhai Community Park Governance Committee since then as well as roles on other council committees. For the past three-year term, Curnow has been councillor for the people in Otamatea, a role she has loved she says.

“During the Spatial Planning process, I was able to sit and talk with people about what they want for their communities, which was an extraordinary opportunity. I see this next term of council as being the one where we make good headway in that through the District Plan review,” she says.

“The challenges posed by climate change are also perhaps more prevalent in Otamatea, given that much of the infrastructure is older and in some cases, more exposed to risk. Council has initiated our response to climate change with the first of our adaptation planning communities being Ruawai, and as I live a good part of my life there, I’ll be keeping a close eye on that too.”

As stepping down from the Otamatea ward leaves an opening ‘for someone fresh’ to represent the people ‘between the Brynderwyns and Tokatoka’, Curnow is available to anyone who is interested in putting themselves forward as a possible future representative of the ward, to discuss the role requirements.

“I’m hoping that we get some great candidates and am really keen to help where I can.”

When asked the big question on whether she will also be putting her hat in for mayor, she replied in the negative, saying she has no intentions at this time to run for the top position in the upcoming elections.

“However, I’ll never say never, but definitely no plans at this point.”

“People should be able to live their whole lives here if they so desire, without having to leave because something doesn’t fit. Council’s role should be to enable that.”

A Kaipara resident for 13 years, Anna Curnow says her vision for the local ward reflects the community’s aspirations for the area to become ‘a place you can live a whole life well’. PHOTO/SUPPLIED