The new South Waikato District Council has been confirmed following its official swearing in and inaugural meeting on Wednesday afternoon at Papa O Te Aroha Marae in Tokoroa.

Following meetings with Elected Members in the aftermath of the October 11 local elections, District Mayor Gary Petley has confirmed Tokoroa Ward Councillor Maria Te Kanawa as his Deputy Mayor for the upcoming triennium.

Mayor Petley said Councillor Te Kanawa was a natural choice for the role, in what will be her second term on Council. “Maria is an incredibly well-respected member of our community who delivered tremendous value at the Council table in the last triennium, as a member for the Tokoroa Ward,” he said.

“She is someone who has been a key part of establishing the plan we have put in place for the District and will support me closely in continuing to deliver on that plan over the next three years."

“She has a focus on the future and is committed to making decisions today that will create a better future for our people.”

Ahead of his second term as Mayor and third in total on Council, Mayor Petley said he is excited to continue the strong work started by the previous Council.

“I’m really excited about this Council and what we can achieve together,” Mayor Petley said.

“Over the past triennium we have laid a foundation from which we can continue to do some wonderful things for our community."

"As I prepare for this term as Mayor, I’d also like to acknowledge those who put their hand up for Council but weren’t successful this time around."

“Thanks also to former Council members Hamish Daine, Hans Nelis and Bill Machen, who ran again but didn’t earn re-election, for their service to the community.”

"During Wednesday’s hui, Mayor Petley also confirmed the structures and members of the various Council Committees for the upcoming triennium, as well as Council representatives for external Committees. These can be viewed in full below.

Council Committee Structures & Council representatives

Full Council: Mayor Gary Petley (Chair), Deputy Mayor Maria Te Kanawa, Cr Zed Latinovic, Cr Thomas Lee, Cr Ani Lipscombe, Cr Kerry Purdy, Cr Dave Shaw, Cr Josiah Teokotai, Cr Michael Thomas, Cr Elvisa Van Der Leden, Cr Sandra Wallace.

Local Services Committee: Cr Lee (Chair), Cr Lipscombe, Cr Latinovic, Cr Thomas, Cr Van Der Leden, Cr Wallace.

Growth & Infrastructure Committee: Cr Wallace (Chair), Cr Lee, Cr Purdy, Cr Shaw, Cr Teokotai, Independent Member (TBC).

Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee: Rachael Dean (Independent Chair), Cr Purdy, Deputy Mayor Te Kanawa, Cr Thomas, Cr Shaw, Anthony Byett (Independent Member).

Chief Executive Relationship Committee: Mayor Petley (Chair), Deputy Mayor Te Kanawa, Cr Lee, Cr Wallace.

Tirāu Community Board: Chris Hunt, Fiona Van Lent, Mandeep Singh, Graham Singers

Community Engagement and Investment Committee: Cr Teokotai (Chair), Cr Lipscombe, Cr Lee, Cr Shaw, Deputy Mayor Te Kanawa.

District Licensing Committee: Commissioner (Chair), Mayor Petley (Deputy Chair), Cr Teokotai, Cr Thomas, Cr Purdy.

Creative Communities Scheme: Chair (TBC), Cr Wallace (Council Rep), public members (6-11).

Regional Land Transport: Cr Van Der Leden, Cr Purdy (alternate).

Waikato CDEMG Joint Committee: Cr Lee, Cr Thomas (alternate). Trade Training: Cr Lee.

Raukawa Settlement Trust Joint Management Co-Governance Committee: Mayor Petley (Co-Chair), Cr Lee, Cr Lipscombe, Cr Teokotai.

Te Arawa Iwi River Trust Joint Management Co-Governance Committee: Mayor Petley (Co-Chair), Cr Lee, Cr Teokotai, Cr Van Der Leden.

Kinleith Consul Group: SW Environ Initiatives (External) 1 member (TBC).

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