5 Aug 2010

Goulter seeks Far North mayoralty

12:57 pm on 5 August 2010

Businessman Sir John Goulter, the former managing director of Auckland International Airport Ltd, has launched his bid for the Far North mayoralty.

Opening his campaign at a public meeting near Paihia on Wednesday night, Sir John strongly criticised an attempt by Mayor Wayne Brown to create a unitary authority, saying there is no significant public mandate for such a move.

He said the council had spent much time and money on a process the Government did not support, at the cost of strained relationships with partners like the Northland Regional Council.

Sir John says the biggest problem facing the Far North is a lack of investment and the difficulty of doing business there.

The former Reserve Bank director now lives in Paihia and chairs the Ngapuhi Asset Holding Company.