Broad range of interests on Regional Forum panel
Farmers, environmentalists and tourism consultants have been selected to be on Environment Southland’s Regional Forum.
Mata Cherrington, David Diprose, Kelsi Hayes, Bernadette Hunt, Jane Kitson, Joyce Kolk, Jade Maguire, Paul Marshall, Glen McMurdo, Philip Morrison, Lisa Pearson, Estelle PeraLeask, Ewen Pirie, Michelle Roberts, Hayden Slee, Fiona Smith and Vaughan Templeton have been selected to be on the forum that will look at the region’s water quality.
The selection panel included council chairman Nicol Horrell, councillors Lyndal Ludlow and Jeremy McPhail and Te Ao Marama Inc chairperson Don Mowat and board member Gail Thompson.
Mowat said the selection panel considered everything from the candidate’s contribution to the community, their interests in land and water, as well as their skills and experience. Occupations included dairy, sheep, beef and deer farmers, environmental education and management, industry, tourism and consultants. Community, professional and other interests are many and varied, reflecting the diversity and quality of the applicants selected.
The forum will meet regularly, with its first workshop being held at the Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff next month.
Sixty candidates had put their names forward to be considered.