Three-way tie for DWC seat

The Westland election for Development West Coast changed overnight on Thursday, from a titanic struggle between two high-profile Hokitika businessmen to a three-way war, when retired farmer Frank Wall suddenly threw his hat in the ring.
Just when sitting trustee Bruce Smith was setting himself for a stern challenge from building contractor Evan Jones, Mr Wall’s nomination changed the whole complexion of the election.

Mr Wall, who farmed at Kowhitirangi for most of his life, brings a wealth of experience in West Coast business, having been a founding director and long-serving chairman of the Phoenix Meat Company, which set up the Kokiri meatworks, and Westmeats Ltd.
Three years ago, Mr Smith had only 19 votes to spare when he unseated trustee Brian Wilkinson. He polled 1272 votes to 1253 in a tense and at times volatile election.
Mr Wilkinson, a retired Hokitika chemist, opted to stay on the sideline this time but has thrown his support behind Mr Jones as his official nominee.
If the voting this election follows the pattern of the Smith-Wilkinson duel in 2007, another extremely close race will be in store.
Both challengers this election, cite trust disharmony as the main reason for standing.
Mr Jones, a former Westland district councillor, said the trust was described by the Auditor General as “dysfunctional” prior to the 2007 election and three years on it was little better.
“We have to get rid of that dysfunction, get a bit of harmony among trustees. The trust is there for everyone and needs uniformity. Hopefully, I can help encourage that.”
Mr Wall echoed those sentiments, saying he was concerned that an element of disharmony still existed.
On Friday, Mr Smith welcomed the challenge.
“Democracy is all about challenge, everybody has the right to out his name forward and the best man wins. That’s democracy and that’s great.”
Mr Smith said the trust had worked hard over the past three years to shed itself of bad debts and was now back into a healthy profit.
“My sole aim is to have DWC recognised as the people’s trust. It is not the government’s nor the politicians’ — it belongs to the people of the West Coast and they should control its future.”
The other current trustees — Westport accountant Frank Dooley (Buller), the founding chairman of the trust, and Ikamatua farmer John Clayton (Grey) – have confirmed they will be seeking re-election. Chairman Tony Williams — appointed to represent the Grey, Westland and Buller district councils — said he was still considering whether to allow his name to go forward again.
Meanwhile, the terms of appointed trustees Mark Lockington (NZ Chartered Accountants) and Robert Buchanan (NZ Law Society) do not expire until 2012, while Ngai Tahu’s seat, currently occupied by Hokitika businessman Barry Wilson, is up for renewal about the time of the October elections.
Mr Wilson said on Friday he would be putting his hat in the ring, but Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu chief executive Anake Goodall said the West Coast iwi would decide in due course whether he would be re-appointed or a new Maori voice would be heard on the trust.