Five North Canterbury Candidates Battle For Two ECan Spots

Friday, 12 September 2025, 2:52 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

A dairy famer and commuter train lobbyist are among five candidates seeking to represent North Canterbury at the regional council table. 

The two incumbent Environment Canterbury councillors, Grant Edge and Claire McKay, are being challenged by Tane Apanui, John Faulkner and Frankie Karetai Wood-Bodley in the North Canterbury/Ōpukepuke constituency. 

Mr Apanui was an ECan councillor from 2019 to 2022 and has a background in road transport. 

He now lives in Kaiapoi. 

He has been lobbying for commuter rail for more than a decade, wants to promote recycled asphalt and to lobby for replacing one-lane bridges in North Canterbury, including the State Highway 1, Hurunui River bridge. 

‘‘When I began talking to councils about trains I almost got laughed out of the room. But when I saw Mainland Rail had brought the old diesel trains from Auckland, I realised there is a real opportunity now to get rail.’’ 

Mr Faulkner is a dairy farmer on the south bank of the Waiau Uwha River. 

He chaired the Hurunui-Waiau Uwha Zone Committee before it was disbanded in 2019. 

‘‘I was impressed with the Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) and I thought it would finally sort out Canterbury’s problems. 

‘‘I am a dairy farmer, but I accept the science in front of me and the only way we are going to resolve those problems is by working together.’’ 

Frankie Karetai Wood-Bodley said they aimed to protect freshwater, strengthen climate and disaster resilience, and improve regional transport options. 

‘‘I am committed to working in partnership with mana whenua, experts, and residents to ensure that our needs, dreams, and aspirations for Ōpukepuke are represented in regional council decisions.’’ 

Mr Edge is seeking a second term. He has served on the Greater Christchurch Partnership Committee, the Canterbury Regional Transport Committee and the Kaikōura Zone Committee. 

New leadership groups are set to replace zone committees after the election, but Mr Edge said the Waimakariri and Kaikōura zone committees have served their communities well. 

‘‘I’m a fan of the CWMS aspirations to improve a whole lot things and that will still happen,’’ he said.

‘‘People are more positive about change and the on the ground stuff is pretty powerful.’’ 

Ms McKay is seeking a third term and has chaired the regulatory committee, served on the Waimakariri Zone Committee and liaised with the Hurunui District Council. 

‘‘I will continue working for balanced environmental protection and freshwater management, simplified regulations that enable positive environmental initiatives, and provide strong support for community-led projects. 

‘‘I remain committed to reducing the burden of rates by driving operational efficiencies and investing ratepayer money wisely.’’

 Voting papers started being posted out from Tuesday, September 9.

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

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