Mike Morresey - aka the Flag Man. Photo: Murray McDowell / Taranaki Daily News
Two of New Plymouth's most colourful characters will go head-to-head for a seat at the district council table later this year.
Mike Morresey - aka the Flag Man - who's famed for his support of the Taranaki rugby team is standing for a seat in the Kaitake-Ngāmotu ward in the October elections.
Among his rivals is former mayoral candidate Murray McDowell who's better known as Mullet Muzz.
Morresey admitted might have to tone down his passionate approach to life should he be successful.
"Oh, definitely, definitely. I'll have to be a little bit quieter. I won't allowed to use my outside voice and I'll have a microphone, so she could get quite loud in the council chamber if I use my outside voice, but I'm very passionate about my community."
The landscaper, who has been off work since falling from the terraces and injuring an ankle when the Bulls secured the NPC title in 2023, said he would be using his trademark flags to advertise his campaign.
"Of course I've got a flag, so I asked the Electoral Commission to see if I could make a campaign flag rather than a billboard and what were the restrictions on the size of the wording on my flag were, and there was none."
The new "Vote Mike Morresey for Council" flag had its first outing outside Stadium Taranaki ahead of the Bulls' Ranfurly Shield challenge at the weekend.
But come game time. he was back flying Bulls colours.
"At about 6.20pm I took my council flag off and put my rugby flag on and walked into the stadium with my rugby flag flying and it was all about rugby."
Morresey - who was chairperson of Hope Walk New Plymouth/Taranaki Charitable Trust - promised a practical community-first approach to council should he be elected.
Former mayoral hopeful Murray McDowell - or as he's recorded on the official candidates list "Mullet Muzz McDowell" was also standing in the Kaitake-Ngāmotu ward.
"That took some doing getting my name recorded like that," he confides.
McDowell stood for the mayoralty alone in 2022 and received just under one thousand votes finishing in sixth place and well behind outgoing mayor Neil Holdom who got about 13600 votes.
Mullet Muzz hoped standing on for the ward alone was a more realistic approach to getting on council.
Former mayoral hopeful Murray McDowell. Photo: Supplied / Muzz McDowell
"After some careful consideration and sound information I decided not to run for mayor this year, but councillor only to get in there."
The former truck and trailer operator said if successful he would apply his one simple policy "honesty".
Kaitake-Ngāmotu would be a hotly contested ward with 19 candidates seeking one of six seats.
Other notable candidates include former roughsleeper Lani Mackie-Hunt, who had risen to prominence through his efforts to provide meals to those currently living on the streets, and one-time champion chip cooker Graham Chard, and former owner of the celebrated Chaos Cafe Kerry Vosseler and advocate for people living with disabilities EJ Barrett.
The frontrunners for the ward would appear to be incumbent councillors former broadcaster Bryan Vickery and former journalist Gordon Brown.
The mayoral race
Graham Chard - whose Okato Takeaways business took out the Chip Group's Judges' Supreme Award for best chips in 2019 - was among nine candidates standing for mayor.
The president of the New Plymouth RSA would face tough competition from current councillors Max Brough - who trailed Holdom by some 8000 votes in 2019, Sam Bennett, came in fourth in 2022 with 2700 votes and current deputy mayor David Bublitz.
Bublitz only came forward once Holdom announced he would not be seeking a fourth term.
The New Plymouth Boys' High School director of sport and former Taranaki basketball coach has been on council six years - three as deputy - and champion of the $50 million new being sports hub being constructed in the city.
Bublitz believed he was ready to step up the top job.
"Over the past six years I've learned how to get things done. How to turn big ideas into action and how to navigate the hard calls.
"But more importantly, I've spent over 30 years laying the platform and bringing people together, solving problems, and supporting others to succeed, whether in sport, governance, or the community."
Brough, who was back for a second shot at the mayoral chains, would appear to be the darling of the New Plymouth Ratepayers Alliance - a group concerned at the rising rates burden homeowners faced.
The owner of an importing, manufacturing and distribution business he said his platform was based on growth and turning the district's economy around.
"That's based on my real-world experience in business and knowing how to get things done."
Brough said the district could no longer look solely to central government for help, but had to leverage of the businesses and industries already in New Plymouth now.
His likely deputy, if elected, would appear to be veteran councillor Murray Chong who had been expected to stand for mayor but was instead seeking a council seat only.
Dark horses in the mayoral race include former police officer and bravery award winner John Woodward, who had been in campaign-mode for several weeks.
The only woman among nine candidates, Sarah Lucas, is a self-confessed local government nerd who had been a Inglewood Community Board Member for three years, chair of a national body for all community boards, a trustee and a surf lifeguard.
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