Council mixes old and new
Top of the list for new councillors is Te Uruhi project review
The new Kāpiti Coast District Council’s provisionally elected line-up is a mix of new faces and political veterans. Joining new Kāpiti mayor-elect Janet Holborow around the council table are newbie councillors including financial whiz Liz Koh, pastor Lawrence Kirby, former cop turned Kāpiti Island tour operator Glen Cooper, and architect Rob Kofoed.
With them are experienced political heads including Shelly Warwick and Kathy Spiers who step up from community board level, Nigel Wilson who returns from the political wilderness, while Jocelyn Prvanov, Martin Halliday and Sophie Handford hold on to their roles.
The new council will be inducted soon, allotted various portfolios, given a crash course in meeting rules and etiquette, tour the district to see key council infrastructure, and meet new chief executive Darren Edwards.
Holborow, who appoint a deputy mayor from one of them, will lead a team of various personalities who will be keen to get stuck in and make a difference.
While there will be robust debates, and key points of difference, she will be keen for everyone to be respectful and positive in their capacity as ratepayer representatives.
One of the first main issues to be tackled will be whether to continue with the Te Uruhi project, at Paraparaumu Beach, or not.
The project has been heavily criticised in some quarters and its sky-rocketing price hike has put people off.
The preliminary results show a voter turnout of 19,417 up from total voter turnout in 2019, including special votes, of 18,343.
Final results will be confirmed tomorrow once special votes have been processed.
Penny Gaylor was re-elected as Kāpiti’s representative on Greater Wellington Regional Council.