: Meet Mayoral Candidate Aksel Bech
Tamahere’s own Aksel Bech has confirmed he’ll stand again for Waikato District mayor in this year’s local body elections, promising a "reset" for a system he says is under pressure from unsustainable rates and outdated governance structures.
Aksel Bech, who previously represented Tamahere- Woodlands on the council for six years and served as deputy mayor, says the time has come to “return power to the people” and tackle what he calls a tipping point in rates affordability.
“Rates affordability has reached a tipping point,” he told local media. “It’s time for a reset.”
His announcement prompted current Tamahere-Woodlands councillor Mike Keir to withdraw his own mayoral bid and instead support Aksel’s campaign, adding a strong local current to the upcoming contest.
Aksel Bech says his campaign will focus on smart, collaborative governance, affordable housing, and rethinking council costs. Since his previous term, he’s become a leading voice in housing advocacy, arguing secure housing is fundamental to education, health, and social wellbeing.
“Our communities need voice, choice and control,” says Aksel Bech. “Local government should be working for communities, not managing over them.”
Aksel Bech also questioned the structure of regional governance, pointing to Future Proof - the multi-council growth partnership involving Waikato, Hamilton, Waipā and Matamata-Piako - as an example of potential duplication. “Every council has its own CEO, CFO and elected members. That’s a lot of overhead when communities are being asked to tighten their belts.”
He also supports initiatives like shared water services with Hamilton City but believes more cost-efficiencies are possible, from smarter food truck licensing to streamlined building inspections.
Aksel Bech has been critical of current mayor Jacqui Church’s leadership, citing a sharp rise in council debt and a bloated executive leadership team. He says these concerns were raised in his 2022 campaign and they’ve only intensified since.
“Three years ago I warned we were entering a period of complex, costly decisions. That time is now.”
Born in Denmark and raised in New Zealand from his teens, Aksel Bech has a background in HR, project management, and marketing, along with degrees in science and social science. He first entered public life through roles on school boards and the Tamahere Community Committee.
He says he plans to campaign district-wide, including in the north where former Aucklanders in places like Pōkeno are now paying up to three times more in rates than before.
While other candidates may still emerge, the stage is set for what could be one of the most closely watched mayoral races in years and for Tamahere, a race with a familiar face right at the centre.
