Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Gwenda Merriman standing for mayoralty

Bay of Plenty Times
15 Jul, 2016 02:33 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Western Bay District deputy mayor Gwenda Merriman is standing for mayor when Ross Paterson steps down. Photo/supplied

Western Bay District deputy mayor Gwenda Merriman is standing for mayor when Ross Paterson steps down. Photo/supplied

Western Bay deputy mayor Gwenda Merriman has announced she is seeking to fill the void left by Mayor Ross Paterson upon his departure at the end of this election term.

Mrs Merriman has been on the council for two terms and lodged her nomination form this morning as a candidate for Mayor, saying she is keen to represent all the communities fairly and without favour.

"To this end, I have decided not to stand for one of the seats in Kaimai Ward as well because I believe it is vital that the mayor be able to act in everyone's best interests, free from any constituency demands.

"In my three years as deputy mayor I have represented the council widely across the region on a variety of official bodies and organisations, building valuable relationships at a personal level. This experience has reinforced to me the importance of being able to see the big picture for the good of the whole Western Bay."

"While I acknowledge that all demands cannot be met, my impartiality will help ensure each community from Waihi Beach to Otamarakau is represented equally at the top level."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

With the mayors of both Western Bay District and Tauranga City councils stepping down at the end of the current term Mrs merriman said she had experience and could provide continuity and connectedness.

"The future of the Western Bay will continue to be challenged and it is important that we maintain a balance between economic prosperity and our special way of life, community diversity and natural environment."

Mrs Merriman said she supported affordable investment in key infrastructure and community facilities triggered by growth, but only within an over-arching, long-term plan that fosters innovation and job creation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We have an exceptional lifestyle here, and I will do everything I can to make sure it is not jeopardised by ill-considered expansion. This is where I was raised and where I raised my family, and I continue to have a personal stake in the region as a farmer with my husband Ross, and as a mother and export-focused businesswoman.

"I believe strongly that life is about relationships, understanding and open communication."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty TimesUpdated

'I hate him': Partner of slain Tribesman lays blame for death at president's feet

18 Jun 03:00 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

Police raid Greazy Dogs gang: Claim 'significant blow' with five arrests, $1.5m assets seized

17 Jun 11:57 PM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Just having a breather': Volcanic plume prompts social media buzz

17 Jun 11:45 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

'I hate him': Partner of slain Tribesman lays blame for death at president's feet

'I hate him': Partner of slain Tribesman lays blame for death at president's feet

18 Jun 03:00 AM

Mark 'Shark' Hohua was allegedly killed in a 'hot-box' beating for spending gang funds.

Police raid Greazy Dogs gang: Claim 'significant blow' with five arrests, $1.5m assets seized

Police raid Greazy Dogs gang: Claim 'significant blow' with five arrests, $1.5m assets seized

17 Jun 11:57 PM
'Just having a breather': Volcanic plume prompts social media buzz

'Just having a breather': Volcanic plume prompts social media buzz

17 Jun 11:45 PM
Silence of the fans:  Chiefs supporters told to leave cowbells at home

Silence of the fans: Chiefs supporters told to leave cowbells at home

17 Jun 11:41 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP