At Large Nelson Candidates On Rates And Storm Resilience

Wednesday, 27 August 2025, 4:06 pm
Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

All Nelson residents get to vote for their preferred mayor, but they’ll also get the chance to elect three councillors at large. 

Unlike candidates elected in a specific ward who can only be voted for by residents of that ward, candidates elected at large can be voted for by all of the city’s residents. 

Nine people were hoping to be elected at large to Nelson City Council, but only a third of them will be successful. 

The potential newcomers to the council were former ACT Party MP Chris Baillie, electrologist Anne Michelle Dickinson, real estate agents Susa Guhl and Jeremy Matthews, Te Piki Oranga deputy chair Keith Palmer, marina manager Nigel Skeggs, and author-researcher Graeme Tyree. 

Incumbent councillors Tim Skinner and Aaron Stallard, who was also running for mayor, were also seeking to be elected at large. 

Should Aaron Stallard be elected mayor and councillor, he would take the role of mayor, leaving the councillor position to the fourth-placed candidate. 

Local Democracy Reporting asked the candidates on their priorities for Nelson, their views on this year’s average rates increase of 6.5%, and how they will vote in the referendum on Māori wards, as well as for an interesting piece of information about themselves. 

The candidates had strict word limits and deadlines, and were told their answers would be cut off if they exceeded the word limit and not published if they missed the deadline. 

Chris Baillie, Anne Michelle Dickinson, and Nigel Skeggs did not answer the questions by the deadline.

Question: What is your top priority for the city at large? 

Susa Guhl: Climate change. Nelson faces growing impacts from climate change and natural disasters, highlighting the urgent need for proactive, sustainable planning to avoid sudden rate hikes and costly one-off responses, as seen in previous events. 

Jeremy Matthews: Bolstering business activity in Nelson’s CBD through free parking, generating additional revenue via the development of Trafalgar Park, and positioning Nelson as an “Education City” by expanding and promoting NMIT. 

Keith Palmer: To control rate increases. 

Tim Skinner: Ensure our core infrastructure improved and prioritised, not vanity projects, or political party ideology. Looking after our environment and community wellbeing. Ensuring Nelson’s the best place to grow a family, and local businesses to thrive. 

Aaron Stallard: My priority is ensuring Nelson Whakatū is a world-leading sustainable city that we are all proud to call home, with safe transport choices, a healthy environment, resilience to hazards, and a vibrant city centre.

Graeme Tyree: To solve chronic peak hours traffic congestion on Waimea Road. Remove non-retail car parking: create freeways for buses, taxis, and light vehicles carrying at least two humans. Two lanes in, then two lanes out! 

Question: What is your opinion on this year’s average rates increase (6.5%)? Do you feel it’s justified and, if so, why? Or do you feel it’s too high and, if so, what specifically should the council reduce spending on? 

Susa Guhl: Too high, but I have no doubt that councillors have the best interests of Nelson residents at heart. I trust our council had good reasons for raising rates to the level they did. 

Jeremy Matthews: 6.5% rates increase is better than most, and reasonable given requisite recent storm recovery. After essentials have been met, support local, proven, community-focused charitable entities. 

Keith Palmer: Too high. It is not justified. Council has to get back to its core responsibility of waters and roads. 

Tim Skinner: Even 5% is far too high and unsustainable. As I have done every annual plan and long-term plan debate, have balanced the books and voted to keep the rates to no more than inflation. 

Aaron Stallard: We all want to minimise rates increases. Council has made substantial budget cuts to minimise this year’s rates increase while also striving to meet community expectations regarding council services, so the rate is justified. 

Graeme Tyree: Justified. It’s essential to spend over 80% of city rates for water supply, stormwater, and sewage services. Extend and upgrade infrastructure to counter anthropomorphic global climate change. Fix the roof before the deluge arrives! 

Question: Will you vote to retain or disestablish the district’s Māori ward in the referendum, and why?

Susa Guhl: Retain. The Māori ward gives Māori a dedicated voice, ensuring council decisions reflect everyone's perspectives. 

Jeremy Matthews: There is no place in a modern liberal democracy for race-based statute. Disestablish.

Keith Palmer: I will vote to retain the Māori ward as we must respect and include the values of our iwi partners. 

Tim Skinner: Been very disappointed in the behaviour and performance of ward system, so will vote against. 

Aaron Stallard: I will vote to retain the Māori ward because it’s been a great success. 

Graeme Tyree: Vote to retain the Māori Ward. Functional, healthy democracy requires adequate representation for local iwi. 

Question: What is something interesting about you that most people won’t be aware of? 

Susa Guhl: Cycling keeps me fit, connected with friends, and grateful for Nelson’s beauty—and its many (exceeded word count) 

Jeremy Matthews: I have memorized 22 of Banjo Patterson’s longest poems, e.g. “The Man From Snowy River.” 

Keith Palmer: In my youth, I was a street corner preacher. 

Tim Skinner: I have huge interest and collection of old historical books of Nelson and New Zealand.

Aaron Stallard: I founded a niche science-based business with clients in 25 countries. 

Graeme Tyree: I'm a nine-times published author, with three recent works on international space exploration programmes. 

-Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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