October 11 2016
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New leadership for Kaipara u by Paul Campbell
After four years of government-appointed commissioners at the helm, governance of the Kaipara has returned to the electorate with 47 per cent of eligible voters choosing new mayor-elect, Greg Gent, in a landslide, along with eight councillors.
Farewell to the commissioners
Upon Kaipara’s return to democracy, chair of commissioners John Robertson says he is pleased with …
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A bright future
Auckland University graduate Tyler Douglas is a walking example of the phrase …
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Sharpening up the cutting edge
They say it’s tough at the top …
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“It was a great election result,” said outgoing commission chair, John Robertson. “I always said we would elect a really good council for Kaipara and Greg Gent, as mayor-elect, is an outstanding leader with a high grasp of governance and I also believe the elected council will provide really good value. “The organisation is in good form to support the new council and in a financial sense it is in better shape than it has been for years.” The new Kaipara District Council will comprise Mr Gent and Libby Jones, Peter Wethey and Jonathan Larsen for Otamatea Ward; Andrew Wade and Karen Joyce-Paki, for Dargaville Ward; and Anna Curnow, Victoria De La VarisWoodcock and Julie Geange for West Coast Central Ward. Kaipara candidates also won election to the Northland District Health Board, in Debbie Evans and Libby Jones with 5,326 and 5,173 votes respectively. In addition, Dargaville’s Penny Smart was successful in her bid for the Northland Regional Council Kaipara seat. KDC mayor-elect Gent is a former chairman of Northland Dairy and Kiwi Dairy companies, and former deputy chairman of Fonterra. He was taking a measured approach to his new role after the preliminary results were released last Sunday. “We are not formally a council until we are sworn in later in the month,
but I would like to get the councillors-elect together on an informal basis this week to discuss how we intend to operate together,” he said. “The first thing we have really got to do is get an understanding in relation to the chief executive officer and the issues involved — you have to establish where you are going before you go anywhere — this relates to all facets of council’s work in the community and not just financial matters.” A target for the new council will be continuing to pay down debt while at the same time providing a wide range of essential services. Mr Robertson added that “after four years the [commissioner’s] task is largely complete with just a few legal issues p Greg Gent, Kaipara’s new mayor remaining to be resolved.” Kaipara candidate for the Northland the next term. Each of the candidates Regional Council, Mark Vincent was was worthy of respect and I salute them unsuccessful in his bid, but he contacted for the spirit in which they conducted Lifestyler to thank his supporters. their campaigns.” See page 4 for a list of the KDC, NRC “While I am deeply disappointed with the result, I congratulate Penny and NDHB Kaipara candidates list and on her success and wish her well over election results.
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