100 days since Nick’s election

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Nick Smith was elected to Nelson’s mayoralty just over 100 days ago and it hasn’t been an easy start to the job for the firsttime mayor.

“It’s been really challenging with the amount of pressures,” he says, highlighting the flood recovery work and dealing with the departure of council’s chief executive Pat Dougherty.

“I’m really proud of the way council, particularly the staff, have responded to the huge challenges associated with the storm recovery.”

Nick highlighted some recent council successes such as repairing the damaged water main that delivers water to the city from the Maitai Dam, ensuring that Kokorua Road residents had a way-out during State Highway 6’s closure for repairs, and the progress made on strengthening the Elma Turner Library.

“When the library closed in June, there was a bit of a vacuum around getting it resolved,” he says. “I’m really pleased that council took the bull by the horns and we’ve got the ceil- ing issue resolved, as well as a plan to deal with the structural issues.”

The pop-up library has been operating out of the re-opened children’s section, but today the pop-up will be extended to include much more of the building following strengthening work on ceiling tiles.

Nick has also enjoyed seeing the city rebound over the past few weeks.

“If you ask me, the most pos- itive thing is seeing our city more vibrant and the return of all those visitor accents that have been absent for a number of years.”

The mayorship has a few key differences for Nick when compared to his time in parliament.

“When you’re a minister or a member of parliament, the debate is very policy focussed. Where with council, it’s really hands-on. I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I’m enjoy- ing it.”

Being mayor also brings another perk for Nick.

“I have travelled on an aeroplane every single week for the last 35 years of my life and just being at home around the dinner table with my family most nights is a unique experience that I’m really liking.”

Going forward, Nick’s focuses will include council’s earthquake-prone buildings, like Civic House’s sixth floor and the Stoke Memorial Hall, and the government reforms affecting local government.

“I’ve got a higher level of confidence in the resource management reforms, and a higher level of concern and opposition to Three Waters,” he says. “And over the coming weeks, working with the taskforce we’ve established, we’ll start seeing our position as a council crystallise.”

Nick will have to work with the other councillors around the table to get council’s positions on these issues solidified.

Elma Turner Library pop-up expands

The pop-up space at the Elma Turner Library is expanding from today. There will now be two entrances into the pop-up library - the existing one by the pop-up playground into the children’s area, and a second one accessible from the library carpark directly into the extensions. Signs will be posted directing people to both entrances. To allow library staff to prepare for the opening, the pop-up wil open at 1pm today.

Trust awards $185k in grants

The New Zealand Community Trust awarded $185k of grants in the region in January. The Nelson Mountain Bike Club was the biggest recipient with $72k for cycle trail repairs, followed by the Nelson Golf Club which received $29k for a Toro Procore greens aerator. Some of the other recipients were the Nelson Hockey Association which received $25k for salaries, and Tahununui School received $15k towards the upgrade of their school hall.

Pipes in the Park returns

After a cancelled event in 2022, the City of Nelson Highland Pipe Band is bringing their Pipes in the Park concert to the Fairfield House Meadow this Sunday, 29 January, at 5.30pm. The band will debut some new tunes, with special guests performing.