Napier candidates: How they match up

• Published date: 30 September 2023
• Publication title: Hawkes Bay Today

I even commuted to Waipukurau for around two years as we didn’t want to leave our family home. My wife and I, Marie, have raised two children to be independent adults, and I now have the ability to be focused on the job at hand and if elected, be your representative

Being a health professional, I have experience and knowledge of the healthcare system. My career has trained me well to listen to people’s problems, points of view, and an ability for critical thinking and providing solutions and viable alternatives.

Being a small business owner, I understand the problems and challenges faced by 90 per cent of businesses in New Zealand. I know how government decisions can wreak havoc on hard-working Kiwis. I’m a people person, my children don’t believe that, but I am someone who can find common ground with those I need. I am not afraid of hard work. I relish the challenge.

John Clive Smith: I knew nothing about fluoridation when I was living in Hamilton. I was 32 years of age until I was enlightened by people out there. That included having contact with a backyard bookseller. Now we’ve got a situation where the Government is going to enforce fluoridation on the city where I’ve resided now for 35 years, one of the attractions being that it is fluoride free.

If I have anything to do with it, it will remain that way. And in fact, fluoride will be taken out of the water everywhere in New Zealand. Some of you might remember last year, I stood for mayoralty as well. I could concentrate on so many things this election but I’m focusing on this so I can finish.

Katie Nimon: Evening everyone, I’m the National candidate for Napier. And I always want to say that the reason that I believe I will be the best MP for Napier is because I know that Napier is not just Napier City, this electorate goes all the way up to Gisborne, even further up Mātāwai, and the issues are broad ranging.

I’m connected to those communities, because everybody’s issues are important and I’m here to view all of those. I have spent my life and dedicated my life to service and to community. I have worked in advisory committees for EIT, The School of Hospitality and Tourism. I’ve grown the tourism industry in Hawke’s Bay, as collective of businesses, business events, and worked really hard to help kids get to school for a very long time.

And so that’s really, really important to me, to represent people and be well catered to people. This job is about representing the people. It is not about my beliefs, it is about everybody else’s beliefs and being open, being honest, hearing those concerns, and coming back to people with the honest truth of what is the best outcome for them. It is about representing them with a National government, and making sure that all of Napier is included in the best decision-making. I will be there for every single person in this entire electorate, I’m a listening ear, I’m committed and connected.

Mark Hutchinson: I chose to raise my three kids here and I built a successful business here from scratch. My dad grew up in a state house here in Marewa — my mum, who is sitting in the second row, was a primary school teacher in Taradale for her whole career. My roots here are deep in nature. I’m not standing to be an MP for a career shift, I’m quite happy with my career. The reason I’m doing it is that I care about people. I want to make a difference.

I want to make Hawke’s Bay a thriving place where our kids can stay, and all of their family at all ages can thrive. And to do that, I think we need to have really good social services, really good infrastructure, and a really booming economy. I think that what I bring to the role is depth and breadth of experience over 30 years.

I spent 10 years working as a child and family psychologist, so I know really well what it takes to help young people succeed in life, and where they go off the rails and what needs to be done about it. The last 20 years, both in the UK and here, I’ve worked with senior leaders and large businesses, leaning into difficult challenges with them and helping them to get things done. I’ve worked with people from all different backgrounds, all different political persuasions, and I’ve got a reputation for helping them to get things done and that’s what I’m bringing to you here.

Julienne Dickey: Kia ora koutou. I grew up in Auckland, I whakapapa to Scotland and Tainui. I ran organisations in the UK in the mental health and disability fields, so I’m very committed to issues around disadvantage and discrimination. I worked as a management consultant with over 100...