Manawatū People's Radio (@mpr.nz)

Local Election 2025: ENM Meet The Candidates (Horizons Regional Council) - Lucky Dip questions The Meet The Candidates event was held at the Globe Theatre by Environment Network Manawatū on 09/09/25. This event was for candidates standing for Horizons Regional Council. In this section, candidates answer questions drawn at random from a basket. Find a podcast of the full event at www.mpr.nz/show/elections TIMESTAMPS 01:19 Do you support ratepayer money going into the biodiversity grant scheme that Horizons already runs? 03:46 Flood protection tends to rely on hard engineering structures without regard for aquatic biodiversity. How could Horizons integrate biodiversity into flood protection works? 05:36 Do you believe Horizons has a role in improving safety for cyclists and walkers? 06:29 What are the most pressing policy challenges facing Horizons? 07:29 How do you rationalise balancing the quality of water in the Manawatū river with the need to discharge effluent into it from the populations living alongside it? 08:32 How will you approach the challenge of including long term strategic thinking in an environment where elected representatives are often rewarded for shiny short-term achievements? 10:51 What could Horizons do better to deliver better environmental outcomes? 11:40 When setting budgets, how do you justify setting plans that may increase rates? 13:05 What role do you see Horizons have in enhancing and protecting biodiversity? 14:19 How will Horizons deliver on its climate change, sustainability, biodiversity, transport, and Manawatū River plans, all in a limited funding environment? 15:54 What is your understanding of the difference between climate adaptation and climate mitigation? 17:11 What are your views on the use of 1080? 18:53 Transport is the biggest contributor to emissions - how can Horizons increase bus use? 20:29 There is a lot of change on the horizon coming from central government. How can Horizons be prepared for these changes? 23:51 Do you think Horizons should support predator-free initiatives in Palmerston North, and what mechanism should they use to do this? 25:03 "The economy is a fully-owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around." Discuss. 29:21 Do you think Horizons has a role in the eradication of plastics that end up in landfill or our waterways? 30:36 Can the electric buses be made free for all, to help control emissions? 33:24 We don't have soft plastic recycling in Palmerston North. Why is this, and how can it be changed? 34:07 Why aren't there young people standing as candidates for local government elections? 35:43 How can we improve the health and water quality of our waterways? 37:13 How important is the joint climate action plan, and what priority would you give to ensuring the identified actions are resourced and implemented? 37:55 What role can ENM have in supporting Horizons' objectives? 39:58 Environmental protection is a science-based job - how do you make the best decisions with limited knowledge? 41:41 Why should Palmerston North Ratepayers contribute to the Sustainable Land Use Initiative? 45:13 From your campaigning experience, what are the most important issues from the people you have talked to, and are environmental issues on that list? 46:40 Without money, we cannot protect our environment well - how do you see this statement? 48:11 What do you think is the biggest environmental challenge facing our region? https://youtu.be/7fAetvsuGSs