Brendan Horan
Candidate for Whakatāne District Council

As a candidate in today’s Grey Power ‘Meet-the-candidates’ debate', I want to send a strong message to Whakatāne residents: Your vote matters—more than you might realise.

In the Whakatāne-Ōhope ward the current sitting councillors voted for the harsh rate increases crippling households and businesses across our district.  This election is your chance to choose who truly represents your interests.

If you think current rates are hard to swallow, brace yourself for a further 12 percent increase next year and 10 percent the year after, as set out in the district plan. This is no small matter; it’s your lifestyle on the line.

Yet too many in our community don’t bother to show up and vote. Then they complain loudly but haven’t done their part to hold councillors accountable. This is how we ended up in situation that we are in today!

The Grey Power meeting at 10am is an opportunity to put power back in the hands of the people. Historically 'meet the candidate' debates are poorly attended, just like Monday night at Galatea where full attendance including the mayoral candidates numbered around 35.  I encourage all people to come with open minds. Demand answers and scrutinise not only the sitting councillors who made these costly decisions but also the skills and competencies of all of those asking for your vote. Politics may be boring, but it has real world impact every second of the day.

The media also needs to play its part, so all Whakatāne knows who is making decisions that affect us all.

Please get engaged, use your vote, and stop the cycle of grumbling without action.