Women in local politics celebrated at candidate meeting

Forget the political tension or potential sideswipes at fellow council aspirants, a Southland candidates meeting on Wednesday night morphed into an almost celebration of women in local government.

The Southland branch of the National Council of Women hosted the event that provided the public with a chance to meet the females standing in the Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council, Environment Southland and Invercargill Licensing Trust elections.

It was one of the first candidate events held since nominations closed on Friday.

Sixty-two people showed up at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill to listen to 18 female candidates who opted to attend.

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The evening was mostly made up of candidates providing background of who they are and what they have achieved in their lives.

There was little delving into the nitty-gritty of any policies in what was a tame occasion where the female candidates largely encouraged each other rather than pick apart statements.

Former MP and current Invercargill councillor Lesley Soper said there had been huge strides made in getting more females involved in politics.

“When I started my political career it was not unusual – I experienced it many times – that I was the only female candidate on a stage with all other male candidates, now look at what we’ve got.”

Younger females were now seeing more and more role models in the sector, she said.

Angela Newell, who is seeking re-election to the Invercargill Licensing Trust board spoke passionately about the role females can play in leadership positions.

“Frankly, I’m a feminist, and I’m a socialist. That doesn’t mean I hate men, I love men. I believe we can all contribute, but I’d say around the board table I’m prepared to push the envelope a little bit and am prepared to challenge privilege.”

Invercargill mayoral hopeful Toni Biddle said one of the things she was most proud of was her election as a councillor six years ago.

“In 2016 I was elected as a city councillor, and if you look at the history of council, elected members didn’t look like me. I was the first Māori woman elected to city council and I will be forever proud of that. What that did for my community and women, and our rangatahi, was let them know that you can be anything you want to be, even a city councillor,” Biddle said.

Lyndal Ludlow, who is seeking re-election as a councilor with Environment Southland, hoped to be able to help mentor Gemma McGrath, the only other female candidate for Environment Southland, if both were elected.

“On my first term on council I was the only woman, and this term I’m one of two. So the battle is not over,” Ludlow said.

Those candidates that attended the event were: Soper, Alex Crackett, Rebecca Amundsen, Trish Boyle, Francine Knowles, Lisa Tou-McNaughton (all Invercargill councillor candidates), Ria Bond (Invercargill councillor and mayoral candidate), Toni Biddle, Jacqueline Walter (Invercargill mayoral candidates), Newell, Lou Evans, Sheree Carey (ILT board candidates), Kirsty Pickett (Southland District mayoral candidate), Wendy Joy Baker (Southland District councillor and mayoral candidate), Gemma Marnane, Margaret Ruddenklau, (Southland District councillor candidates), Ludlow, and Gemma McGrath (Environment Southland councillor candidate).