NZ Local Elections 2025

Central Hawke's Bay District Council

Ruataniwha General Ward
The Central Hawke's Bay District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of nine councillors and the mayor. three councillors will be elected from the Ruataniwha ward. The other councillors will be elected from other wards or by all voters in the district. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Central Hawke's Bay District Council election.

Candidates

Policies

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Todd Chote

Todd Chote

Pip Burne

Pip Burne

Your Voice, Our Community

Kirsty Lawrence

Kirsty Lawrence

Independent

Graham Stubbs

Graham Stubbs

Tim Gilbertson

Tim Gilbertson

Murray Kenderdine

Murray Kenderdine

Ben Revell

Ben Revell

Independent

Jenny Nelson-Smith

Jenny Nelson-Smith

Pip Burne

Your Voice, Our Community

| Councillor Central Hawke's Bay

Pip Burne

Your Voice, Our Community

| Councillor Central Hawke's Bay

Why I'm standing

I am terribly proud to call Central Hawke's Bay home. I grew up here, work here and my husband and I are raising our three children in this beautiful part of the country. I want it to continue to be a place people are proud to call home with opportunities to live, work and play. Affordability is an issue plaguing all of NZ and we need to address this. Core services are 90% of council spend.

About me

I have been a councillor for five years. Professionally, I bring 30 years in freight and rural transport, with a focus on health and safety, human resources and compliance. On council, I've served as deputy chair of the Strategy, Growth and Community Committee, sat on Risk and Assurance and worked as a hearings commissioner. These roles have taught me the value of careful scrutiny, transparent decisions and finding the right balance between ambition and affordability.

My priorities
  1. Focus on affordability for our ratepayers, particularly those on low or fixed incomes.
  2. Provide resilient infrastructure so we do not leave legacy issues for our children or grandchildren.
  3. Ensure the ability to still provide the things that make Central Hawke's Bay a great place to live through external funding.
Current role

Councillor Central Hawke's Bay

Residence

Waipawa

Age

52

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Why I'm standing

I am terribly proud to call Central Hawke's Bay home. I grew up here, work here and my husband and I are raising our three children in this beautiful part of the country. I want it to continue to be a place people are proud to call home with opportunities to live, work and play. Affordability is an issue plaguing all of NZ and we need to address this. Core services are 90% of council spend.

About me

I have been a councillor for five years. Professionally, I bring 30 years in freight and rural transport, with a focus on health and safety, human resources and compliance. On council, I've served as deputy chair of the Strategy, Growth and Community Committee, sat on Risk and Assurance and worked as a hearings commissioner. These roles have taught me the value of careful scrutiny, transparent decisions and finding the right balance between ambition and affordability.

My priorities
  1. Focus on affordability for our ratepayers, particularly those on low or fixed incomes.
  2. Provide resilient infrastructure so we do not leave legacy issues for our children or grandchildren.
  3. Ensure the ability to still provide the things that make Central Hawke's Bay a great place to live through external funding.
Current role

Councillor Central Hawke's Bay

Residence

Waipawa

Age

52

Connect via

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