Heatley Phil: Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 3) — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Heatley Phil: Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 3) — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:618;Page:14122] 
PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) 
: 
 It is disappointing that we have to tidy up the change that the Labour Party put through back in 2002 whereby good members of the community could not stand for both council and the mayoralty. Subsequently a whole lot of them decided that they would stand just for council and their skills could not be used as mayors. A whole lot of others decided that they would stand for the mayoralty and because of course only one mayor could be chosen and they could not stand as councillors as well they were lost to the cities and districts. That was a huge disappointment to areas throughout New Zealand. In the provinces and rural areas in particular the pool from which to select good and able people is smaller—not because of ability but simply because of population issues. 
If people are willing enthusiastic and able and if they can earn an electoral mandate why should they not stand as representatives on the council? Why can they not put up their hand and say that they could do a good job as mayor that this is what they stand for that this is what they stand against and to vote for them? Unfortunately in 2002 the Labour Party decided that people could stand only for council or for the mayoralty. We will fix that. The National Party is very proud to vote for this particular clause which allows any person simply to be a candidate for both positions. A person could be a member in a ward in a council election or could be a candidate for the mayor of the district council of which that ward forms a part. National will support this bill. I know that in Whangarei where now we have a four-horse race for the mayoralty— 
Darren Hughes 
: Is the member running for the community board? 
PHIL HEATLEY 
: It is true. The Otaki member is quite right. I have been lobbied by local Whangarei constituents to be mayor as well as MP. But I will not do it. I will not be double-dipping. We have a four-horse race out there but one particular person who is very able has been holding back because he is concerned that if he puts his hand up for mayor—he is very able—and does not get the nod from the public he will not be able to sit for council as well. I will be calling him tonight if this bill passes and saying that the National Party fixed it for him and for Whangarei and we know he will be delighted about that. The member for Otaki might very well— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Who? 
PHIL HEATLEY 
: I think his name is Darren Hughes. In his electorate he is called “Darren Who” not Darren Hughes. In Parliament he is called “Little Red”. I think it is time that Darren Hughes walked out from under the shadow of Judy Keall—I know it is a long crawl to walk out from under the shadow of Judy Keall—and actually stood for something in this Parliament. “Little Red” should stand for something in this Parliament and crawl out from the shadow of Judy Keall regardless of how long that might take because she casts a shadow indeed. 
We will support this clause for the reasons I outline. We want good people in the provinces and in rural New Zealand to put up their hands and know they have a good shot either to lead a council as mayor or to be a councillor. We want the pool of skilled people in rural and provincial New Zealand to be large so that electors have a choice. We are not interested in closing down the pool as the Labour Party would have us do so that only their whipping boys get to stand. We will support this clause and no doubt the Government is pleased about that.