Maketu man Paul Haimona is standing for mayor because he is 'willing to make a difference”.

Paul is contesting the Western Bay of Plenty mayoralty and standing as a candidate in the Maketu-Te Puke Ward.

The retired electrician has lived in Maketu for seven years after moving back from Ireland. He wants to increase accountability at all aspects of the council. 'I'm interested in bringing accountability. I love math and there's something about figures that don't lie,” says Paul.

He also has big plans for the district if he were to be elected. 'I want the Western Bay of Plenty to become the Silicon Valley of New Zealand.

'How do you do that? You attract internet companies here. Why would they want to come here? Because we have fibre and we'll attract them,” says Paul.

'We've got a thriving kiwifruit and dairy industry. What's next? It may be in the world of technology.”

The Weekend Sun is asking mayoral candidates their thoughts on the Three Waters reforms, that will see drinking, waste and storm water managed by four publicly owned entities rather the Aotearoa's councils.

Paul says 'it would be something to look at” because the previous councils have done a 'damn good job” of the water infrastructure so far.

The 66-year-old says the pros and cons would need to be looked at because when the entities are formed, funding would go to areas where their water infrastructure isn't as good. 'What are they going give us? Because our rohe is in a good nick.”

Maketu. Photo: Google Maps.

Asked his thoughts on Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Tauranga City Council amalgamating, Paul says it would be up to the people to decide. 'They say by amalgamating, there's less people involved in all that administration stuff. Which is good in one way, but what happens to the little towns that have only got population of 600 and I say that because that's the population of Maketu.”

Paul affiliates with eight iwi including Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. He was born in Rotorua and lived in Whakatāne for the first 25 years of his life.

'What I'm clear about is the blood that throws flows through my vein is Te Arawa. It's the truth and the authenticity of sharing myself, of who I am that will identify to Māori.”

He chose Maketu on returning to NZ for the lifestyle. 'But more than the lifestyle, I like living amongst my tūpuna (ancestors).”

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.