New team sworn in at Napier

Mary Shanahan Every seat was taken in the Napier City Council chamber yesterday as family, friends and supporters gathered for the formal swearing in of a new-look council.
Some old hands said it was the best-attended triennial meeting ever, as five new faces joined the seven re-elected councillors around the table. Many stressed that they were looking forward to being part of a team committed to ensuring the city's progress.
Not all outgoing councillors were at the meeting to hear the mayor's customary acknowledgement of past efforts.
However Denyse Watkins took the opportunity to deliver an eight-minute valedictory in which she observed that a "particular paper" had set out to destroy her, and had succeeded in doing so.
Stan Simmonds, who served two terms on council, was not at the formal occasion, having left several months ago for England, where he plans to work for at least a year.
A single-term councillor, Annemarie Wedd, was also absent.
Mayor Barbara Arnott said Mrs Wedd had told her that she was not sure if she would be able to attend the meeting.
Mrs Arnott described John Harrison as a colourful character who inevitably would have left his mark in his nine years on council.
She said Mr Harrison, the chairman of the corporate business committee for six years, had made a solid contribution to the financial robustness of the city, and as chairman of the revenue review committee had taken the council through the first stage of the important rating review.
As a major player in the development of the saltwater heated pools on Marine Parade, he was particularly proud of the Ocean Spa complex.
Mrs Arnott said she had always appreciated the former councillor's forthrightness and humour. He was perhaps more suited to Australian politics, she joked, but his debating skills and turn-of-phrase were individualistic and always evoked a response.
"He leaves council having made his memorable contribution to the city. He leaves in his wake a legacy of a larger-than-life character and I wish him all the best."
In a tribute to Mrs Watkins, Mrs Arnott said any councillor who served 15 years had the continuing approval of the community during that time.
Mrs Watkins had seen herself as a "people person" and had worked at the grassroots level for her community. She had an all-encompassing love of Napier and its people, taking pride in both. She was tirelessly enthusiastic and supportive of the city and had to be commended for championing residents among whom she had worked.
Her many roles all involved people and the community. She had a special interest in the performing arts and had chaired the council's creative community committee for several terms. The community grants committee also benefited from her wide experience and chairmanship skills.
David Bosley, who served one term, had been active as a citizens' advocate, and his presidency of Grey Power had aligned well with his council work.
Mr Bosley had promoted the city, constantly emphasising its merits and the work people did to advance it. He had described Napier's citizens as its greatest resource.
Before and during the last council term, he pushed for the development of the Marine Parade pool complex as an amenity he believed would add to the city.
Dog-lovers had good reason to be grateful to Mr Bosley, Mrs Arnott said. He had championed good owners and worked for an equitable funding process that rewarded the ones who were.
He had sat on the revenue review committee, had been deputy chairman of the trading committee and represented Napier on the Omarunui landfill committee.