Neil Volzke Secures Sixth Term as Stratford Mayor in Close Race

Neil Volzke has been re-elected as the mayor of Stratford for a sixth consecutive term, edging out his opponent Jono Erwood by a narrow margin of 219 votes. This victory positions Volzke as potentially the longest-serving current mayor in the country, contingent on the final vote count confirming that Wayne Guppy, the mayor of Upper Hutt, has lost his bid for a ninth term to Peri Zee.

Preliminary results released on October 29, 2023, indicate Volzke received a total of 2,045 votes compared to Erwood’s 1,826. With the new council set to include four or five newly elected members, Volzke expressed enthusiasm for the challenges that lie ahead. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of the next three years; it will be a testing time for councils,” he stated.

New Council and Community Engagement

The newly elected council is expected to face a steep learning curve, according to Volzke. He noted that engaging with the community, particularly the local Māori population, will be crucial moving forward. “We have three years ahead to engage with Māori and find new ways to ensure they have input,” he explained. The district recently voted against retaining the Māori Ward after 2028, a decision Volzke anticipated based on feedback during his campaign.

One of the primary objectives for the new council will be the establishment of a new business unit called Local Water Done Well. This initiative aims to enhance local water management practices, which Volzke described as a “major and important task.”

Additionally, the council will prioritize keeping rate increases to a minimum, as residents are feeling the impacts of rising living costs. “The feedback I received from the campaign is that the community is really feeling the cost of living increasing at the moment. We have to do everything we can to ensure our rates increases are on the lower end,” he emphasized.

Election Results and Future Goals

Erwood, despite narrowly missing the mayoralty, topped the vote for councillors, expressing satisfaction with his performance. “I was definitely pleased with that; it was good giving people an option. Both of us love the community, and we will do our utmost for it,” he remarked. Erwood remains optimistic that the special vote count, expected to be released on November 3, 2023, will not alter the election outcome.

The new council will convene for its inaugural meeting in early November, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Stratford’s local governance. As Volzke prepares to lead once again, he is committed to addressing the pressing issues facing the community and fostering a collaborative environment among the newly elected members.