Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s newly elected members officially took office at the inaugural Council meeting and declaration ceremony today.
Proceedings began with a pōwhiri to welcome the incoming Council, following which councillors and community board members made and signed their declarations in front of whānau and friends, marking the beginning of their three-year term.
Western Bay’s new Council is the first under the District’s updated representation arrangements. The new structure includes a Mayor and nine Councillors across four wards, including, for the first time, a Waka Kai Uru Māori Ward Councillor.
It also extends representation across the District, with five Community Boards now covering almost all areas through the introduction of new Community Board subdivisions in the Ōmokoroa-Kaimai and Te Puke-Eastern areas.
Mayor James Denyer was inaugurated for his second term, alongside nine Councillors — including three new members: Graeme Elvin, representing the Kaimai Ward; Shane Beech, representing the Maketū-Te Puke Ward; and Darlene Dinsdale, representing the Waka Kai Uru Māori Ward.
They join returning Councillors Allan Sole, Rodney Joyce, Margaret Murray-Benge, Tracey Coxhead, Grant Dally, and Laura Rae.
Although not present at the meeting, Margaret Murray-Benge was formally appointed to the position of Deputy Mayor.
Mayor James offered congratulations to all those elected and expressed how it was “an honour and privilege to be an elected member and given the trust of the people of our District”.
He added that he looked forward to working as a cohesive team, not just as Councillors around the table, but across the five Community Boards, which now covered just about all the District.
With inflationary pressures, a tough economic environment, water reform and changing government priorities, the last term had been one of the toughest experienced in local government, he said.
“It has not been easy, and yet there is much still ahead of us. The implementation of Local Water Done Well, resource management reforms, finalising a regional deal, and an expectation of a reset of the structure and functions of local government, alongside the likelihood of a constraint over revenue via rate capping, are just some of the challenges that are likely to face us this term. Against this backdrop we must work hard to earn and build trust from our community.”
He went on to say he looks forward to continuing to drive delivery for the community over the next three years.
“The east in particular will see some major investment, kicking off with the Te Puke Wastewater Treatment Plant, our largest capital expenditure to date. The regional deal also promises to achieve some long-standing infrastructure goals. These are exciting times and I’m privileged to be serving our community for the next three years.”
Community Board members also made their declarations at the meeting, with Councillors appointed to each of the five Boards: Waihī Beach – Allan Sole; Katikati – Rodney Joyce; Ōmokoroa-Kaimai – Margaret Murray-Benge and Tracey Coxhead; Maketū – Shane Beech; and Te Puke-Eastern – Grant Dally and Laura Rae.
Each Community Board also elected its Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson at the meeting, as follows:
Community Board | Chair | Deputy Chair |
Katikati
| James Sayer
| Anne Henry
|
Maketū
| Sue Elliot
| Aleisha Waterhouse
|
Ōmokoroa-Kaimai
| Chris Dever
| Bevan Rakoia
|
Te Puke-Eastern
| Dale Snell
| Sally Benning
|
Waihī Beach
| Wayne Stevenson
| Gail Kelly
|
And, Council confirmed the date for its next meeting — Friday, 14 November — to endorse the Summary Plan for Local Waters Done Well and to appoint members to Council’s Elected Members Working Group. The first full business meeting will be held on Tuesday, 25 November, when committee structures and Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson roles for the new triennium will be announced.
