New faces, new experience, new council

It’s a new-look council for Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council this triennium. This week, the Regional Council is welcoming nine new councillors, with five returning. 

Regional Council Chief Executive Fiona McTavish says while the announcement of the final election results on Saturday confirmed who will be sitting around the council table, it also confirmed an impressive range of experience in the Councillors-elect.

“I’m really excited that our new council is made up of people from a wide range of careers and experiences,” she says. “Among our new leaders we have farmers, butchers, meteorologists, environmental experts, business owners and engineers – as well those who bring their previous local government experience to the table.

“It’s a great mix of people, who hold a range of hugely relevant skills and are representative of the region’s communities.”

Ms McTavish says the new Council is also made up of people who have been community leaders in their previous roles and this is a natural stepping stone for many of them.

“Some have led community organisations, others are business leaders, and some are iwi leaders. Now they’ve stepped up to lead our region and I’m looking forward to seeing where Bay of Plenty Regional Council is heading.”

The first steps for the new Council include briefing and induction sessions, before the inaugural Council meeting on Thursday 30 October where they will be sworn in and decide on the Chair and Deputy Chair roles.

The first meeting of the full council will take place on Tuesday 18 November. 

Final election results

Western Bay of Plenty General Constituency (2 vacancies)
John Scrimgeour
Ken Shirley

Mauao Māori Constituency (1 vacancy)
Matemoana McDonald

Tauranga General Constituency (5 vacancies)
Stuart Crosby
Tim Maltby
Glenn Dougal
Kate Graeme
Kat Macmillan

Rotorua General Constituency (2 vacancies)
Raj Kumar
Anna Grayling (nee Heap)

Eastern Bay of Plenty General Constituency (2 vacancies)
Malcolm Campbell
Sarah van der Boom

Ōkurei Māori Constituency (1 vacancy)
Allan Iwi Te Whau

Kōhi Māori Constituency (1 vacancy)
Mawera Karetai