Rubber chickens, water pistols, a golden cyclist, and a cover of What’s Up? by 4 Non Blondes – Nelson's 'Not Your Normal Candidates' Meeting’ lived up to its name once again.
The regular local election fixture, organised by sustainable transport group Nelsust, saw around 100 voters hear the views of 20 of Nelson’s 35 candidates at the Victory Community Centre.
Each council hopeful was asked about how they would make the city’s transport truly sustainable.
Answers had to be kept to three minutes (with time-up signalled by a squealing rubber chicken and enforced by Nelsust’s secretary Pam Henson, who gleefully wielded a water pistol).
There was a broad consensus amongst the candidates that sustainable transport was important, with common themes emerging through the night, such as expanding the cycleway and bus networks, engaging meaningfully with residents to develop locally-led solutions, intensifying housing to reduce the need to commute, and increasing education and advocacy to encourage modal shifts.
Incumbent councillor Aaron Stallard, the only mayoral candidate in attendance, outlined several of his priorities, including delivering the East-West cycleway to link Nelson South with the Brook, and advocating for the Rocks Road walking and cycling boulevard.
“Clear ways, city fringe parking policy, congestion charging, urban design, intensification – they all are in the mix in terms of sustainable transport.”
However, one candidate rejected the premise of the question.
Running at large, retired real estate agent and auctioneer Jeremy Matthews said that the Nelson Tasman region accounted for just 0.00238% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are infinitely small, so the question I’m asking in this is: why are we asking this question? We have zero leverage on the problem.”
He said it was “fine” for people to ride bikes and buses, but said that the city’s consumer goods would continue to be delivered to the city in trucks.
“We need good roads.”
It was a bold statement to make during an event run by a sustainable transport group and attended by many of its supporters.
Booing and heckling were not allowed, and so Matthews copped several thumbs-downs from attendees.
“I suppose I’m considered by many of you here as the Devil incarnate,” he acknowledged.
“I know very well where I’m standing. That’s okay, because you’re community, we’re all community, and the Lord loves wondrous variety.”
Candidates were also each asked a different question posed by members of the audience – a dangerous exercise that saw some candidates struggling to answer.
Sand McDougall wasn’t overly sure what her approach to protecting regional biodiversity would be, Steph Phillips didn’t know how popular the airport’s controversial runway extension was in Tāhunanui, and Dan Robinson admitted he hadn’t considered introducing a third lane on Waimea Road.
But the standout answer of the evening was Anne Dickinson’s response to being asked how she would promote healthy eating, which drew the largest laugh of the evening.
She recommended that more people take up hunting and foraging.
“You don’t have to go to the supermarket to eat,” she said.
“I eat edible weeds. Go foraging. You actually have a really big salad, and that’s given me a lot more energy, ever since I started doing weeds.”
Candidates who attended:
Mayor: Aaron Stallard (also running at large)
At Large: Anne Dickinson, Susa Guhl, Jeremy Matthews, Tim Skinner, and Graeme Tyree.
Central Ward: Matty Anderson, Jackie Galland, James Hodgson, Marie Lindaya, Sand McDougall, David North, Steph Phillips, Pete Rainey, Tilman Walk, and Mike Ward.
Stoke-Tāhunanui Ward: Mel Courtney, Dan Robinson, with representatives of Guy Coulson and Sarah Kerby speaking on their behalf.
Candidates who did not attend:
Mayor: Richard Osmaston, Nick Smith, and John Wakelin.
At Large: Chris Baillie, Keith Palmer, and Nigel Skeggs.
Central Ward: Lisa Austin, Lenny Blake, and Anton Hyman.
Stoke-Tāhunanui: Trudie Brand, Paul Lacy, Mike Nicholls, Valmai Palatchie, and Campbell Rollo.
Whakatū Māori Ward: Kahu Paki Paki.
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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