21 August, 2025

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is at a turning point. As the region faces environmental pressures, population growth, and the challenges of sustainable development, the question is not just what decisions we make today — but what kind of future we leave behind for tomorrow.

Tauranga local and Regional Council candidate Ash Hillis says the 2025 elections are an opportunity to strike the right balance between the wisdom of experienced councillors and the energy of fresh voices ready to commit for the long haul.

“This isn’t about replacing the past — it’s about building the future,” says Hillis. “We need a council that’s grounded in stability but brave enough to think beyond ourselves. Our decisions today must be made with the next generation in mind — ensuring they inherit not just the Bay we enjoy, but a stronger, healthier region than the one we found.”

Hillis’ campaign centres on the principle of legacy: that elected leaders must be caretakers of the region’s long-term wellbeing, not just short-term managers.

“Our children and grandchildren deserve a council that takes its responsibilities seriously,” Hillis says. “This is bigger than us. It’s about preparing a better tomorrow — protecting our environment, safeguarding our communities, and setting up the next generation of leaders to succeed.”

By combining the experience of seasoned councillors with the determination of new candidates, Hillis believes the Bay of Plenty can chart a course that honours the past while fully investing in the future.

“The measure of our leadership won’t be what we achieve in three years,” Hillis concludes. “It will be what we leave behind in thirty.”

© Scoop Media