Hayley Browne

16/10/2025

Well thank you all of you, your support and kind words have been wonderful.

It's been interesting watching this "I'm leaving" post get more engagement than any post I've ever done... 40,000 views (normal for this page is 5-2000!)

Perhaps its because its more human or personal than what I normally post?
Perhaps as kiwis we engage more when something is over rather than in the middle of things?

Much to my surprise I've had more people follow this page... and it's got me curious... what are you hoping to see next? What are you hoping this page might become?

I was originally thinking this page would retire with my council career

I have some ideas but I'd love to hear yours

Are you interested in where my career goes next?
Or Leadership reflections?
Or Climate Action work?
Or the human side of being a working mum?
Are you interested in the process of "recovering" from a sustained stressful experience like an election?

I'm genuinely curious!!

14/10/2025

Hey everyone, I’ve had a few messages asking how I am, and a few people not quite knowing what to say after the election results, so I thought I’d share a few reflections.

Personally it’s been a big couple of decades, and a big six years becoming a mum while serving in local government. I’ve known for a while that I needed to prioritise more rest.

Standing for Regional Council felt like the natural next step, and I have absolutely no regrets about putting myself forward or choosing to change councils. I would’ve given 100% to the role, but life has a way of handing you what you most need, not what you planned.

I’m deeply at peace (and surprisingly relieved) not to be stepping into another round of local politics. The result feels like a gentle nudge from the universe, and in hindsight, exactly what I needed.

If you see me out and about, don’t worry, the smile isn’t a façade. I’m genuinely happy to be handing over the weight of responsibility I’ve felt as kaitiaki of our beautiful city.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have passionate, skilled staff who could earn more elsewhere but choose public service because it matters. My leaving wish is that we continue to treat them with kindness, as they’re the heart of our city.

It’s been an honour to serve Napier and play a small part in shaping its future. All the best to Hawke's Bay's new councils, I’m still here, still caring deeply about this place, just no longer in the political arena. And honestly, that feels exactly right for right now. ✨

11/10/2025

Well the results are not what I was hoping for, there’s only the slimmest of chances that the order could change once today’s approximately 2000 votes and special votes are counted.

Congratulations to
Neil Kirton - Hawke's Bay Regional Council
Louise Parsons Ward Candidate For HB Regional Council and
Hinewai for Hawke's Bay Regional Council

You’ve all run strong campaigns and I have no doubt you’ll all be strong advocates for our community, each bringing something different to the table.

I’m not sure what the next step is for me, but I always have several irons in the fire so I’ll not be short of things to do 😉

Thank you to everyone who’s helped out on this campaign, I’m sorry the results didn’t reflect the effort you put in. Thank you to the 6,809 people (and counting) who voted for me. I would have enjoyed adding value on HBRC, but c’est la vie.

10/10/2025

Signs are in, and my fate is totally in your hands.

If you’re a Last Minute Annie who gets your motivation from a deadline it’s tomorrow at 12 noon sharp!! Drop your voting papers into Council Customer Services or any of the big orange wheelie bins you’ve see around town.

A huge thank you to all of you who have voted, I’m looking forward to finding out the results and to see who you’ve chosen to represent you.

Ps if you see a sign out there still please let me know… 24/25 all in and accounted for :)

08/10/2025

One of our community aspirations is to get a Sandy beach back at Westshore, it’s part of our coastal hazards strategy. But it’s not easy and there’s no “common sense” when it comes to how it should be paid for - we all have different ideas about what is fair, which is why we have set up community panels to help HBRC councillors get a feel for what the community want, this is OUR decision to make collectively.

Here’s some background and an update on where the Coastal Hazards strategy is up to for Napier.

In Hawke’s Bay, our coastline is divided into two “cells” for coastal hazard planning: the Northern Cell (Bayview and Westshore), and the Southern Cell (Haumoana, Te Awanga and Clifton). They have their own challenges, but I’ve been working closely with the Northern Cell community focus grou...

06/10/2025

I don't even know where to begin to say farewell to Annette. From our first walk pushing a pram down marine parade, to watching her in awe as she elegantly pulls together Council's thinking into a resolution, to celebrating the highs, and sharing a more than a few vulnerable moments together, Annette has been there.

Thursday marks our last official time together and its fitting we're signing off on our District Plan - a mountain of work that we've climbed together that will shape Napier's future.

Annette Brosnan Deputy Mayor of Napier : Council's going to miss your fierce intelligence and determination, and I'll miss your friendship when you're travelling abroad! Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime x

04/10/2025

From playing "Spot mum on a billboard" to making their own campaign video... our girls sure keep this journey in perspective.

Turns out I'm somewhere between "coo-coo" and very, very caring. Thanks girls!

03/10/2025

Just one week to go till we find who's in and who's out!! The power is in your hands to decide our future... vote now if you haven't already

29/09/2025

Last week marked some big milestones, including my Valedictory Speech and farewell from Napier City Council - Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri. Thank you to Kirsten Wise - Mayor of Napier, for a beautiful farewell. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited for the next chapter ahead.

24/09/2025

41 today 💛

As women we’re so often dismissed as too young, or overlooked as too old.

But I love watching women step into their power as they age - the wisdom, the empathy, and the shrinking tolerance for systemic nonsense is inspiring!

For me, this age feels just right 😉 Ready and energised for a new chapter, grateful for the last one and all the lessons it taught me.

And grateful, too, for friends and whānau who spoil me with love (how beautiful is this homemade gift basket from my talented friend, she even made the vase!).

19/09/2025

A fantastic turnout for our Coastal Hazards Community Reference Group yesterday 👏

One of the most interesting insights came from the Insurance Council: contrary to popular belief, when councils publish updated risk data, it can actually reduce insurance premiums.

Why? Because premiums aren’t just about the known risk—they also include a cost for the uncertainty in the data.
💡 Premium = Known Risk + Uncertainty + Other factors.

That means when we provide updated data or complete mitigations like pump station upgrades or the Whakarire Revetment, sharing that with insurers can directly lower premiums. It also helps homeowners make more informed choices about their properties.

A huge thank you to our community for showing up, sharing your voices, and helping shape the future of our coast. 🌊

18/09/2025

A fantastic turn out for the Ahuriri Ward Candidate evening tonight hosted by ABA - Business Association and Sunrise Rotary.

That’s the last big event for the campaign - now cosying up and calming down with a Chamomile from one of my fabulous supporters - thank you Jan and all those who have sent me messages of support and encouragement, delivered flyers and shared the message - together we will face the challenges ahead, and I’ll be honoured to help lead our community through them if you choose me.