Brendan Horan

Every few years, we are given something powerful, the chance to shape the future of our town. Voting isn’t just a civic duty; it’s an act of care for our whānau, our neighbours, and the generations to come. When we vote, we decide what kind of community we want to live in, one where challenges are met with courage, compassion, and common sense.

Whakatāne stands at a crossroads. The ripple effects of the sweeping economic reforms of the 1980s and 1990s, delivered by Roger Douglas and Ruth Richardson are still felt today. Those reforms, built on faith in free markets and privatisation, reshaped our country, selling off assets from state housing to power companies. Decades later, we’re still paying the price and literally, we see it in our electricity bills and cost of living. We were told the free market could fix everything. But here in Whakatāne, the cracks are clear: strained healthcare, housing shortages, struggling infrastructure, and rising social hardship.

Right now, residents are waiting weeks just to see a GP. Our emergency department is short-staffed, and doctors and nurses are pushed to their limits. We need strong, strategic action and it’s not rocket-science, there are simple solutions like fast-tracking overseas doctors’ qualifications, offering citizenship pathways, and creating real incentives to bring skilled health professionals here. These are the kind of practical, people-focused solutions that Mayor Dr Victor Luca and I have long stood for. Dr Luca’s leadership in hosting the “Spotlight on New Zealand’s Health System Crisis” roundtable gave our town a platform to be heard and connected citizens directly with experts. His work over many years with Grey Power, first as a member and later as President shows his deep and consistent advocacy for health equity.

From the beginning of his mayoralty, Dr Luca has proven he’s not afraid to speak up. When some councillors pushed for excessive rate rises without sound justification, he went public urging residents to make their voices heard. That’s leadership: someone who listens to the people and stands firm for fairness. I’ve done the same. In 2012, I stood alongside community advocate Sandy Milne at the Little Theatre, challenging the privatisation of our laboratory services, a fight that continues today. Together, we’ve always believed healthcare should be accessible, equitable, and in public hands.

But our challenges go beyond healthcare. Local retailers are facing increased intimidation from aggressive behaviour and rough sleeping outside their shops. Many of those affected are vulnerable, but others need structured mental health care, support the Government has been slow to provide. During a recent visit to Québec, I saw how a community can balance compassion with clear rules: shelters and meals for those in need, but strong bylaws to protect public safety. Whakatāne can do the same care for the vulnerable, while keeping our streets safe and welcoming for everyone.

These are not spectator issues. They demand leadership, the kind that listens, acts, and finds balance rather than hiding behind ideology or leaving everything to “the market.”

As of today, only about 30 percent of eligible voters have returned their papers. That means most of our community hasn’t yet had their say. If you haven’t voted, please do. This is your chance to choose leaders who care deeply about Whakatāne, who have proven they will stand up for you when it counts.

So, before the polls close this Saturday, take a moment to fill in your ballot. Every vote is a voice and Whakatāne needs yours. Together, let’s protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and choose leadership grounded in integrity, experience, and heart