Councillors mostly turn up

Most Horizons Regional councillors have attended 90 per cent of the local body’s meetings, with the worst attendance figures coming from a third-term elected official.

Eleven of 12 councillors missed just one or two meetings since being elected in October 2016, and four councillors have had a 100 per cent attendance rate.

Cr John Barrow missed the most meetings, with a 76 per cent attendance rate. The third-term councillor said he was absent for six of 25 meetings due to medical reasons and bereavement leave, but wouldn’t comment further. ‘‘I’m not going to discuss it.’’

Cr Nicola Patrick has attended all full council meetings and meetings of the committes she is a member of, but it wasn’t always easy with children and a part-time job, she said.

It was a challenge juggling other commitments and travelling from Whanganui to Palmerston North for meetings, but Patrick did it because she wanted to be 100 per cent committed to the council, she said.

‘‘It’ a fundamental commitment that I’ve prioritised.’’

The first-term councillor wanted to be a voice that Whanganui residents and environmentalists could rely on, she said.

Each councillor has attended a different number of meetings, as they have different committee responsibilities.

Patrick has attended all 27 meetings required her, including environment and passenger transport committee meetings.

Although it could be difficult at times to attend every meeting, the council introduced Skype conference calls as an option if a councillor couldn’t physically be there, Patrick said.

Cr Colleen Sheldon said she tried to attend every meeting, but she was occasionally late because she studied natural resources and environmental economics at Massey University. ‘‘It really helps me understand or be able to ask better questions in council.’’

Sheldon has attended 23 of 25 meetings and she also tried to attend other committees she wasn’t a member of, such as the regional transport committee.

Councillors Pat Kelly, Gordon Mckellar and Wiremu Te Awe Awe have also attended all meetings this term.