Likely contenders line up for South Waikato mayoral race
Monday, 17 February 2025
South Waikato may have a four-way mayoral race in October’s local government elections.
The Waikato Times has spoken to three people keen to take on incumbent mayor Gary Petley - a current councillor, former councillor, and the man Petley unceremoniously booted out of the council chamber for personally attacking the council’s chief executive.
In January, Petley confirmed he’d run for a second term after Hamilton City mayor Paula Southgate and Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter both said they’d be stepping down from their roles.
Putāruru Ward councillor Sandra Wallace is a two-term councillor and said she’d be a leader that listens.
“I want to ensure that local voices are heard and valued … and work on economic development and support for local businesses.
“It’s really important for creating jobs and prosperity in the district.”
She was also keen to unite the district’s three main towns and connect communities.
“I believe I'm a good communicator … so many people don’t know what’s happening in the district so communication is a biggie for me.”
She said it's hard for people to pay their rates, and would be asking the community how the council could save money, and how it could increase revenue though other sources.
With 20 years of banking experience, Wallace said she had a good handle on the financial side of council and would return to a “line by line” financial planning process.
Former two-term South Waikato District councillor Peter Shulte said “there is a very strong possibility I will run”.
“The wasteful spending has to stop,” he said.
“This council treats the ratepayers like an automatic teller machine.”
Shulte said he’d concentrate on rates affordability, reducing council bureaucracy, and stopping wasteful spending.
“I know of two couples who have already sold their houses and are moving to the South Island because they can't afford the rates here.”
He said he’d be “stirring the pot” with MPs in Wellington to secure more local funding, and would put a stop to the council’s plans to introduce universal water metering.
“We need to go through budgets line by line … like we used to in the past.”
He said staff cuts would also be on the cards.
“The way I see it is that councillors are an inconvenience to them.”
Building company owner Zed Latinovic, the man ejected from council by mayor Petley last year, said there would be “an extremely high chance” he’d put his hand up for the mayoralty.
“The first thing that we have to look at is all unnecessary spending, so go back to basics essentially.
“There will be a reduction in operational expenses without losing services either.”
He said borrowing money to pay for services, only for future generations to have to pay those loans back, would have to stop.
“This all goes back to the ratepayers, who are already struggling to make ends meet.
“Unfortunately at the moment the council seems to be completely disconnected from the reality on the ground, and I would like to try and change that.”
He said central government would also have to come to the party and help the struggling district.
Rumours deputy mayor Hamish Daine would also be running are not true, Daine confirmed to the Waikato Times.
He said he’ll be backing Petley for a second term.
“Gary has settled into his role well, and is the mayor the district needs.
“He’s not going around putting himself up on a pedestal, he just wants to get the job done.”