Northland councillors sworn in
Northland mayors and councillors were officially sworn in during four ceremonies around the region on October 25.
Far North Mayor John Carter was re-elected for a consecutive term in Kaikohe following the October 8 election.
He will head a council of nine - two of whom are new faces. Dave Hookway replaced Di Maxwell, who didn’t contest the election, and Felicity Foy who ousted Dave Collard. Tania McInnes was reappointed deputy mayor.
Other returned councillors sworn in were Ann Court, WillowJean Prime, Sally Macauley, Colin Kitchen, John Vujcich and Mate Radich.
Bill Shepherd was re-elected unopposed as chair at the Northland Regional Council.
His council of nine have five new faces, including for the first time in 18 years two women - councillors Jocelyn Stolwerk and Penny Smart. Second term councillor David Sinclair was elected unopposed as deputy chair.
Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai was officially sworn in for her second term as mayor alongside her 13 strong council at the Te Kotahi- tanga, Exhibition Hall at Forum North. She reappointed Sharon Morgan as her deputy.
Mai is the 22nd mayor of Whangarei and the first in 15 years to have been elected for a consecutive term.
The ceremony, observing marae protocol for the first time, saw the mayor and councillors called on by kuia Emma Cribb.
A karakia was given by Te Warahi Heteraka followed by hau kainga speakers Rihari Shepherd and Pita Tipene. Response from the manuhiri were given by Te Aupouri Whautere and Hohepa Rudolph. Moving and powerful waita were performed by the Hatea kapa haka. More than 150 members of the public, family and supporters attended the cer- emony.
Kaipara has for the first time in four years an elected council.
Ruawai farmer and businessman Greg Gent is the district’s new mayor.
He and his team of eight councillors replaces the three commissioners, John Robertson, Peter Winder and Richard Booth who along with retired commissioner Colin Dale were appointed by the Government in 2012 to resolve the district’s governance and debt issues.
Peter Winder has been appointed Crown manager to support the council.