Waimakariri Deputy Mayor Ready To Retire

Thursday, 25 September 2025, 5:30 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

‘‘For a boy who didn’t finish the fourth form’’, Neville Atkinson feels he hasn’t done too bad. 

Mr Atkinson will retire next month after 24 years in local politics, including seven terms as a councillor and six years as Waimakariri deputy mayor. 

‘‘I have a QBE - qualified by experience,’’ he said. 

‘‘You don’t have to be the smartest or most educated person to get somewhere.’’ 

First elected to the Kaiapoi Community Board in 2001, Mr Atkinson said he has seen a number of changes, including ward boundary changes and the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. 

Back in 2001, the Kaiapoi Community Board was the only one in the district, with the other wards served by advisory boards - now there are four community boards. 

First elected to the council in 2004, he has served under four mayors - Jim Gerard, Ron Keating, David Ayers and Dan Gordon. 

The most challenging time was in the years following the earthquakes, he said. 

The council and the Kaiapoi Community Board formed an earthquake recovery committee which met regularly for several years, on top of council and board meetings. 

‘‘I’m incredibly proud of the council and the way they dealt with the earthquake in this district. ‘‘It was amazing.’’ 

He said the community engagement into the Kaiapoi regeneration plan for the red zoned land, was ‘‘probably the best public input I’ve seen on any plan anywhere’’. 

During his time on council, Mr Atkinson became a certified Resource Management Act hearing commissioner, which led to him serving on the hearings planning for the recently adopted Waimakariri District Plan. 

‘‘It’s been a massive exercise. ‘

‘For a boy who didn’t finish the fourth form, it was the hardest exam I’ve every sat.’’ 

Before entering the political scene, Mr Atkinson was the Kaiapoi Promotions Association co-ordinator and oversaw plans for a new marina on the Kaiapoi River, and a Kaiapoi walkway as a millennium project. 

Both projects came into being after the earthquakes and are now ‘‘an absolute asset for the town’’. 

Mr Atkinson said he couldn’t have done it without the support of his family. 

‘‘My family has allowed me to do this for this long and it has been incredibly generous of them. 

‘‘They have carried without me and then supported me when I came home, especially in the earthquake years.’’

His advise for new councillors is to consider how they can best serve the whole district. ‘‘As a district councillor, you represent the whole community. 

Your ward is only a means of getting elected. 

‘‘But no-one ever loses their heart for their home, so the question is how does your Kaiapoi view fit into the whole district view. 

‘‘People ask ‘what have you done?’ But you can’t do anything alone. You have to work together with others.’’

While he is retiring from the council, Mr Atkinson said he has plenty of projects to keep him busy, including extending the Passchendaele Memorial Path cycle and walkway from Kaiapoi to Rangiora, to go from cenotaph to cenotaph. 

‘‘The Kaiapoi end is easy, but Rangiora is a bit more problematic, but it will happen over time with roading changes.’’

 He will also continue to serve on the district licensing committee. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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