The new Central Hawke's Bay District Council met for the first time yesterday afternoon at the CHB Municipal Theatre in Waipawa.
About 100 people, including the mayor and councillors' family members, friends, council staff and former councillors were in attendance at the venue, which had been shifted from the council chambers to accommodate the large numbers expected.
Maori consultative committee representative Roger Maaka gave a short welcome after which the new mayor Alex Walker and councillors were sworn in.
Ian Sharp, entering his third term in council, was confirmed as deputy mayor, continuing the role he had held for two terms, moved by David Tennent and seconded by Kelly Annand.
Addressing the meeting, Ms Walker thanked the councillors who had been at the helm for the past three years, steering the community through important issues such as rates inflation, amalgamation, the Ruataniwha dam and the initial stages of the re-development at Russell Park, Waipukurau.