They included former NZ First MP Darroch Ball, former National Party candidate William Wood, and return city council candidate and local government commentator Andy Asquith. As a relatively unknown newcomer, Mikalad said he had worked hard and spent a lot on quality brochures and social media to improve his visibility. Mikalad said he had been planning to stand for the council in 2022, and had been saving towards that goal for a while before this year’s opportunity arose when former deputy mayor Tangi Utikere resigned after being elected as the city’s Labour MP. “A lot of feedback I got was that I was visible and putting in the effort. I wanted it more than anyone, to be able to serve the community, while the others relied to an extent on name recognition.”
The debate over the wards has caused controversy after an initial vote on the issue earlier this month was not in favour of establishing a ward in time for the 2022 elections. Councillors voted to push the issue out in favour of public consultation. However, days later the council back-peddled following a meeting between Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate and Waikato-Tainui representatives. The mayor and five councillors then said they would revoke that decision at Thursday’s meeting.
Tom Lee/Stuff
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate has back-peddled after initially voting against installing a Māori ward at the time she said she couldn t support the introduction of Maori wards without first consulting the wider public (file photo).
City council brushes off criticism over $400m social housing gap stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Decades earlier a very different leader with a very real snarl raised visions of a Communist ambush and dangerous political overreach. An infamous advertising campaign featuring dancing Cossacks helped National’s Robert Muldoon take the Beehive, but even he could not resist the strong arm of political might, responding to crises with carless days, wage and price freezes, and Think Big.
Tom Scott
Tom Scott cartoon depicting Helengrad.
Cartoons depicting Helengrad and the National Party’s dancing Cossacks fuelled people’s concerns about the intrusions of government into everyday life. Those muscles have been flexed once more, in response to the latest global crisis.
Wellington scoop co nz » Democracy and ideology scoop.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scoop.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.