Council now ready for next three years

TEAM WORK: Mayor Adrienne Staples and her newly-appointed deputy mayor Viv Napier. This is their 10th year working together in these roles.

A diverse mix of councillors was sworn into South Wairarapa District Council yesterday morning.

Mayor Adrienne Staples, elected unopposed, and nine elected members signed their declarations at the first meeting of the new three-year term.

Viv Napier was appointed deputy mayor by Mrs Staples, notching up almost a decade of working together.

"It's been three terms together, it's really good," said Mrs Napier.

She said the new council team was a good reflection of the area and had an equal number of women and men.

"We've got a really balanced lot of people, we've got different ages, gender, Maori, rural, urban.

"In fact it probably isn't like any other council in the region."

Mrs Napier said with councillors aged in their 20s to their 70s, almost every decade was covered now.

"For a rural area, we've done amazingly well with the mix.

"It's usually really male dominated, and often older white males, so we're pretty lucky."

Fresh faces on the council are Featherston ward councillor Colin Olds and Greytown ward councillor David Montgomerie.

Portfolios were given out at the meeting and both Mr Olds and Mr Montgomerie are part of the hearings committee and the emergency services working party.

Mr Olds is on the SportNZ rural travel fund assessment committee and regional council whaitua committee.

He said the first meeting was excellent and he had some things to learn before taking action.

"It's all quite exciting, this is a whole new ball game for me.

"There's some key issues I want to bring to the fore with regard to Featherston."

Young newcomer David Montgomerie was also pleased to be on the council.

"I think it's a pretty exciting time for the next three years and to work on the things we've been talking about on the election campaign and start getting involved with the committees and appointments that have been made."