Unity and action call for new council
A long-standing councillor has been appointed Nelson’s new deputy mayor.
Mayor Nick Smith announced Pete Rainey as his deputy at the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Nelson City Council on Thursday following the swearing-in ceremony.
Smith described Rainey as “one of our most experienced councillors”.
Their skills were complementary — his focus on infrastructure and Rainey’s passion for the arts — and both shared “a deep love of the city and an ambition to get stuff done”.
“His politics lean left, mine right, reinforcing my desire for council to continue to pursue a moderate and balanced programme,” Smith said in his address.
Revitalising the city was critical to Nelson’s economic recovery, with Rainey – who is in his sixth term – to be chairing the Revitalisation Taskforce leading this work.
Recent job losses at Carter Holt Harvey and Sealord and the proposed shift of Proper Crisps had made for “the toughest period in decades” for the region, Smith said.
Those losses, combined with inflation driven by rates and power bills, were intensifying pressure on households.
“Every dollar we take in rates is a dollar less that a household has to spend or a business has to invest,” he said.
The mayor also outlined a new governance model combining standing committees with the “nimbleness” of taskforces to strengthen oversight while maintaining agility. Major decisions would continue to be made at monthly council meetings.
The new structure would take time to embed, Smith said, and would “require patience and goodwill”.
Rainey and he both shared a view that the region would be better served by a single council, he said. Preliminary plans with Tasman mayor Tim King were under way on joint building consent and harbour master services.
Smith congratulated returning and new councillors, saying Lisa Austin’s expertise in transport, Sarah Kerby’s in community advocacy, and Nigel Skeggs’ background in marine and tourism are valuable additions to the table.
In his inauguration speech, Rainey said his approach was simple: “No surprises, argue fairly, collaborate well, and let’s get things done.”
He urged councillors to work constructively and “with collegiality as our goal”.
“To the people of Nelson,” he said. “Hold us to account, bring your ideas and work with us to build the city we need.”
Speaking to the Nelson Mail after the ceremony, Rainey said his focus would be on unity. “There’s absolutely no point in having a council that adds factions and can’t work together,” he said. “We need collegiality — and to just get on with the job.”
He said Nelson needed investment that could come from both Government and private development.
An arts advocate and musician “at the core,” Rainey said he was particularly excited about establishing the reformed Arts Development Agency to restore Nelson’s reputation as a national arts centre.
Thursday’s ceremony at the council chambers included a pōwhiri and haka performed by councillor Matty Anderson’s son. Kahu Paki Paki, who was re-elected via the Māori Ward, was the first to be sworn in.
At large councillor Skeggs said in his address that Nelson was “on the cusp” of opportunity.
“As long as we work collaboratively and stay focused on delivery now – we won’t always agree – and that’s healthy debate done well, leads to better decisions”.
Elected for the central ward, Austin said Nelson elected them “to be able to work together and to challenge the status quo and to adopt bold, impactful policies”.
Kerby, who filled the vacant ward seat, said good governance started with listening, understanding communities and making decisions that reflected people’s realities.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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