Warren Maher has been elected chair of Waikato Regional Council during the inaugural meeting held in Hamilton.

The meeting on Wednesday (29 October) began with a mihi whakatau led by kaumātua Atutahi Riki, which was acknowledged by Chief Executive Chris McLay.

After formalities, including the reading of declarations by each elected member, the meeting then moved into election of the chair. There was just one nomination, with second term councillor Maher (Thames-Coromandel) declared the chair.

In accepting the nomination, Cr Maher said: “There is a real desire around the table to move the council forward... We have some amazing staff, some amazing people on the ground delivering incredible mahi for the region. We want to carry that forward.”

He noted the need for unity and balanced decision-making around the economy, social and cultural values, and the environment, for the benefit of the Waikato region.

With Cr Maher now chairing the meeting, attention turned to electing the deputy chair, with Mich’eal Downard (Taupō-Rotorua) and Kataraina Hodge (Ngā Tai ki Uta) nominated. By a majority vote of nine to three, Cr Downard was elected deputy chair.

There was a report brought by the new chair relating to proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1: Waikato and Waipā rivers, which is currently before the Environment Court.

The proposed motion – which was passed after considerable debate – directed the chief executive to instruct legal counsel to seek a two-to-three-month extension from the Environment Court to enable a new economic impact assessment to be prepared for its consideration.

The motion responded to concerns in the lead up to the October elections from some farmers and growers about the economic impact of the rules and policies in the plan change.

The meeting was livestreamed and recorded: waikatoregion.govt.nz/council-meetings/council

About Plan Change 1

Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1: Waikato and Waipā rivers, often referred to as Plan Change 1 or PC1, was developed by a 24-member collaborative stakeholder group.

A comprehensive economic model was developed in tandem with the development of Plan Change 1, the outputs of which have been publicly available since prior to the notification of the plan in 2016.

Following notification of the Plan Change 1 decisions version, 24 appeals were received with over 1000 appeal points. None of the appeals were withdrawn. That means the plan change cannot be withdrawn.

The Environment Court has indicated that it will reach a final decision on Plan Change 1 by the end of 2025. This decision will be able to be appealed to the High Court, only on questions of law.

Read more at waikatoregion.govt.nz/healthyrivers.

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