Buller's Political Hopefuls Plead Their Case To Voters

Friday, 12 September 2025, 4:46 pm
Article: Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter

For a political meeting – it was unusually good-humoured. 

Possibly it was the excellent free nibbles - or the generosity of the Reefton audience, but last night’s [Thursday] meet-the-candidates event at Dawsons Hotel was a combat-free zone. 

Buller local government nominees had three minutes to make their case, and just a minute to answer questions - a format that kept them strictly in order – but also nixed any prospect of argy-bargy from the audience. 

But compere Stu Gray was free to rib the speakers, however and the line-up of candidates for the Inangahua Community Board provided the most entertainment. 

In the interests of full disclosure, the town’s recently retired traffic officer Don Abbey warned fellow citizens that if they elected him to the Inangahua Community Board, he would be away for three months of the year, visiting family in Europe. 

“He hasn’t got the job yet and he’s already applied for three months leave,” Mr Gray commented to a highly amused audience. 

Two vacancies on the Board must be filled by councillors, and Reefton’s Linda Webb and Dave Hawes, who have had no competition for council seats, are set to take them – leaving seven hopefuls for the remaining four ICB roles. 

Long serving ICB member Alun Bollinger had high praise for his competitors. 

“It’s a fine line-up …and any four of us would be suitable for the job. I have to say one reason I’d like to stay on the Board is that some of them I’d like to work with.” 

Improvements he would like to see included a safe footbridge alongside Reefton’s town bridge (on State Highway 7) and a speed limit of 40ks through the town, but those were NZTA Waka Kotahi decisions, he said. 

“I think it’s time for local government to start pushing back against central government ... and if there’s any way I can help push back I will do so.” 

Candidate Keith Tonks, joining the meeting by video from Canada, raved enthusiastically about the joys of living in Reefton. Newcomer Nicky Kennedy, a 37 year old veterinarian, is the youngest of the ICB candidates. 

She came to Reefton four years ago with her geologist partner, and admired the town’s achievements and projects, but would like to see more transparency – and more information about key locations in the town. 

“For instance, the Women’s Institute Rooms? (where the board meets). Where is it?“ 

Disability advocate Lisa Neil, who helps run Reefton’s Who Cares House, told the audience she would focus on accessibility if elected. 

The wheelchair user campaigned successfully to have a useable ramp built at the council’s Women’s Institute building, after she had to be carried into a meeting. 

“Accessibility is the first step in democracy – but so often it gets left behind,” she said. 

Local identity and JP Tony Fortune said as a born and bred Reeftonite and a former teacher in the town, he knew it well, and if elected would do his best to represent the district he was passionate about. 

ICB chair Linda Webb spoke as a mayoral candidate, saying the Buller District Council needed to listen more to the people. 

“I understand the frustrations of small communities; families are really feeling the pressure.” 

Mayor Jamie Cleine reviewed the council’s successes in attracting government funding, its spending and work programme in Reefton, and stressed the need to retain fundamental facilities including the theatre and the swimming pool. 

Mayoral candidate Chris Russell recounted his past career in Solid Energy and the coal supply, the shipping industry, and his role in securing the Midland Railway Line but did not refer specifically to the needs of Reefton. 

An attempt by local man Julian Tyerman to ask about Mr Russell’s social media posts was ignored, and the microphone passed to a man who asked Mr Russell a question about the risks of losing the Midland line. 

Mr Russell told LDR today [Friday] he did not know the man and provided LDR with campaign material, offering to help Inangahua people fight for their community board to have more influence, and a bigger budget. 

At present the Board receives $30,000 a year and has a discretionary budget of $5000.

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

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