Community Boards Another Voice For Locals

Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 6:10 pm
Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

Residents in the Golden Bay and Motueka Wards face an additional decision at the ballot box than other Tasman residents: who to elect to their respective community boards, but what exactly do community boards do? 

Unlike the mayor and councillors who guide council policy and make many final decisions, the community boards’ main role is to represent and advocate for their local area. 

The boards have some powers, such as allocating small community grants, and approving playground equipment, traffic signs and bus stops, specific tree removal, and street names. 

But they also make recommendations and submissions to Tasman District Council about the level of local services, as well as on leases and licences or developments in public spaces. 

The Golden Bay Community Board ensured that the isolated community was not “overlooked”, said departing chair Abbie Langford. 

“We’re a voice and an advocate for our community, making sure that our issues are given due consideration and attention.” 

One of the more significant advocacy roles the community board has played in recent years was to oppose the demolition of the ward’s historic grandstand. 

“There was very strong support within the Golden Bay community that that be retained,” Langford said. 

“It ranges from big stuff like the grandstand to the little stuff like rubbish bins, and reserves, and management of playgrounds, and even things like mowing.” 

After consulting the public, the community board had also allocated funding for projects like security cameras in Tākaka, Pākawau playground equipment, and upgrading the Rockville Pool. 

Departing Motueka Community Board chair Terina Graham described the board as the “direct link” between the town and the council. “

It’s a place where people can be heard, and then the board can advocate on their behalf.” 

This term, the board has advocated for the community on several “contentious” issues, including tiny homes, cycleways, and council enforcement and culture. 

It also made several financial contributions to various projects, such as the Decks Reserve playground, the Motueka Skatepark, a shade sail at Memorial Park, CBD security cameras, and flagpoles at the Riwaka Memorial Reserve. 

The community board also spearheaded the “really successful” Community Well-being Solutions Initiative, which brought together representatives from various sectors and industries to discuss how the cost-of-living crisis and housing vulnerability impacted youth engagement and attendance at school. 

Graham said that one of the key results of that initiative was the networking opportunities to address needs in the community. 

“We’re building a collaborative resource base where people can work together.” 

Each of Tasman’s community boards has four members who are directly elected to their board, but the respective ward councillors also sit on the boards. 

Standing for election to the Golden Bay Community Board were Sunshine Appleby, Clarissa Bruning, Henry Dixon, Grant Knowles, Mark Raffills, Rodney Ward, and Axel Downard-Wilke, who was also running for councillor.

For the Motueka Community Board, Ray Hellyer, Claire Hutt, John Katene, Laura Lusk, and David Ogilvie were competing for a seat. Voting closes on Saturday 11 October. 

-Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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