MEDIA RELEASE

28 September 2016

Long-serving ORC councillors attend last meeting

Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Woodhead has paid tribute to retiring councillors Louise Croot and David Shepherd, who attended their last council meeting today after 27 years and nine years’ service respectively.

It is the end of an era for Mrs Croot, who has been on the council since it was created following local government amalgamation in 1989, and is believed to be one of the longest-serving regional councillors in New Zealand.

Mr Shepherd has held a number of senior governance roles within ORC during his tenure, notably as deputy to Mr Woodhead between 2010 and 2013.

Mr Woodhead said their wisdom and experience across a broad range of portfolios had served ORC and the Otago community well, and their respective contributions, particular in resource management as hearings commissioners, were significant.

“Louise, as a councillor representing the Dunedin constituency of ORC, has always had a strong commitment to good governance and putting communities first; while David, representing the Molyneux constituency, has been notable for his advocacy for rural communities, having had a professional background as a banker and farmer.”

ORC chief executive Peter Bodeker, on behalf of council staff, wished Mrs Croot and Mr Shepherd well for their retirement, saying their knowledge and experience in local government had been invaluable and would not easily be replaced.

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