Bay's voice at local govt goes one louder

Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman Fenton Wilson. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay now has a louder voice at Local Government New Zealand with Fenton Wilson elected to the table.

Mr Wilson, who is also the Hawke's Bay Regional Council chairman, joins his Hasting's counterpart Lawrence Yule, the current LGNZ president.

He said while it was early days yet, he was pretty "rapt" to be given a chance to represent regional council views at the local authority body.

"It is quite a privilege really to be that close to the top table and get a chance to have the regional issues aired around that table," he said.

"I am learning a lot as I go, and [will do] my share of the heavy lifting I suppose when the time comes."

Mr Wilson, who is the LGNZ deputy chairman of the regional sector group, was given the chance to sit on National Council after Fran Wilde stepped down as chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council earlier this year.

He said he was selected by his peers, New Zealand's regional council chairs, through an election to represent them at the table.

"Two of us represent the sector and the sector's interest, that is land and water, on the national council," he said.

He said while there is only 12 months left of the LGNZ'z council's term, he was certainly interested in making sure that the issues that regional councils have to deal with is understood by my mayoral colleagues around the table.

"And lets face it fresh water is a huge discussion that is looming in this country," he said.

So what does this mean for Hawke's Bay?

"[It mean's] we probably have a fairly good understanding of some of the issues that the sector has to deal with that local government has to deal with," Mr Wilson said.

"And you do have a lot more contact with Minister's, so you have more chances to lobby Government."