Melser Announces Re-Election Bid With Focus On Youth And Climate

Thursday, 24 July 2025, 5:25 pm
Article: Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter

Singer, activist and Whanganui councillor Charlotte Melser has announced she will stand for a second term in October’s local body elections.

Melser will campaign on four pillars: enabling the youth sector, climate and environment, community cohesion, and business and innovation.

The former restaurant owner – at 37 one of the council’s youngest elected members – launched her first term in local government in 2022.

“The reason I initially stood hasn’t changed – the importance of broader representation. For people to want to engage in democracy they need to see people they feel represent them and their values.”

It had been a challenging three years and big issues lay ahead.

“It’s been an absolute baptism by fire. The complexities of local government are growing and we’ve been through pretty tough economic times.

“I’ve worked hard to learn the mechanisms and different parts of council, to understand how our town works, and the levers we can pull to connect people and make it better.

“There are pieces of work I’ve spent a lot of time and energy on, which I would love to see through, particularly in the youth space.”

During long-term plan deliberations, the council decided to dissolve its youth council. Responding to a “huge” outcry of public support for youth representation, Melser asked for a $10,000 youth initiatives budget, which councillors not only backed but increased to $40,000.

“We’re now looking at something pretty cool that could elevate and enable the sector.

“Across the board, the challenges are marketing, networking and reaching the youth that organisations are specifically trying to target. We are looking at ways to fill those gaps and connect the sector.”

A key focus in the new triennium would be change within local government, including potential amalgamation.

“The writing is on the wall – things are changing. A lot of conversations need to be had to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of local government.

“Water reform is part of it, the first tranche of change. We’re walking down another road of pretty big reform beyond water services.

“A lot of councils, including our own, are working together to find efficiencies like shared service arrangements, which makes sense.”

An advocate for environment, biodiversity and climate strategies, Melser gained her qualification as a Resource Management Act (RMA) hearings commissioner during the term and sees RMA reform as another big council workstream.

She is concerned about lack of clarity and guidance from Government on climate resilience and adaptation.

“RMA reform is surely the opportunity to start seriously talking about climate change adaptation.

“We’re getting major weather event after major weather event. We have MPs talking about where the liability lands in terms of home ownership and buy-outs, and in the meantime we’re having insurance payouts fixing these homes up and selling them on, so where’s the liability?

“Where is the conversation about managed retreat? We need continuity around the country in terms of what that looks like, and that needs to come from the top.”

Whanganui could not on its own fund the managed retreat of vulnerable areas such as Anzac Parade, Pūtiki and along parts of the Whanganui River.

“Our communities deserve to have certainty and clarity, and we as a district deserve to have direction on what that looks like.”

Melser has been an active opponent of proposed seabed mining off South Taranaki.

“I’ve been working very hard on that in my own time. It’s at a crucial point as the fast-track approvals process is stood up.

“Opposition is massive and growing. You’ve got the fishing industry, farmers, environmentalists, scientists, politicians, businesses, iwi. Never have I seen such unity among communities on a single issue.”

Melser’s promise to advance community cohesion rests on her experience in Castlecliff, where she lives and once owned The Citadel restaurant.

She cites the Castlecliff Rejuvenation Project partnership with the council as an important insight into the growth and activation that could be achieved through the power of community.

Whanganui could develop as a thriving hub of business and innovation, logistics and manufacturing, Melser said.

“It’s about looking outward regionally, where the opportunities are. Our airport and port developments put us in a really strong position to be innovative and connected in logistics, and we have incredible manufacturers here in all sorts of industries.”

The mother of young twins has also worked to support the introduction of Whanganui’s first Māori seats this year.

“My sense of justice and fairness kicked in and I just got to work. I think it’s going to be a game-changer.”

Melser will confirm her second-term campaign on Friday with a fundraising event at Amdram Theatre, supported by Castlecliff Lights.

A singer-songwriter herself, Melser will also perform. Her second single Down To Me will be released on 16 August.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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