Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Local boards across Auckland have officially begun their new term, after completing inaugurations and electing chairpersons and deputy chairs for the next three years.
Local board members make decisions about local board services and facilities, such as parks, libraries and events, and provide leadership to help build stronger local communities across the 21 local board areas.
Their role differs to ward councillors who sit on the council's Governing Body and represent each of 13 ward areas when making decisions for the Auckland region.
This week, 16 out of the 21 local boards so far have held inaugurations, swearing in elected members for the new term.
Mayor Wayne Brown congratulated local board members on their elections and said there was a big job ahead.
"This term we will work a bit more closely with our local board colleagues, with more regular get-togethers, and a look at how we structure and function our work," Brown said.
"Most local boards are larger than city or district councils elsewhere in New Zealand, with more people and bigger budgets. It's good the government are finally starting to recognise this."
Of the local boards that have elected their leaders, four have chosen to split the chairperson role and five local boards have split the deputy chairperson roles to serve half terms.
Out west, Chris Carter will lead the Henderson-Massey Local Board, and will be assisted by Brooke Loader and Dan Collins as deputies. Loader and Collins will each take turns serving half the term.
Waitākere Ranges will be led by Mark Allen, with Greg Presland and Michelle Lucke as deputies, also taking turns to serve half terms.
In the Whau area, Kay Thomas takes the helm with her deputy chair Fasitua Amosa.
Rodney has Guy Wishart as chair, and Ivan Wagstaff as deputy.
Waitākere Ranges Local Board. Photo: Supplied / LDR
Out south, Kushma Nair will lead the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, with deputy chair Paramjeet Singh. Papakura will be headed by Kelvin Hieatt and deputy chair Brent Catchpole.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu will have split leadership this term, with Kaea Inoke-Togiamua serving as chairperson for the first half of the term, before handing it over to Harry Toleafoa. Deputy chairs Christine
O'Brien and Joe Glassie-Rasmussen will also be sharing the position for each half of the term.
Franklin will be chaired by Alan Cole and Amanda Hopkins as deputy chair.
Kylee Matthews was sworn in as chair for the Waiheke Local Board, with Damian Sycamore taking on the role of deputy chair.
Brown said there will be huge opportunities ahead for local boards to be a part of.
He named the Plan Change 120 (PC120) - the proposed plan change to the Auckland Unitary Plan - funding and recycling as some top priorities for the next three years.
"I don't believe we've had before while we finish the fix on strengthening Auckland's physical resilience."
He said there will be a big focus on transport, and 'getting the structure right for decision-making coming in-house'.
The Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board after a shaky start to their term, with controversy in the election of their leaders. Photo: Supplied / LDR
"This will mean more responsibility, as well as accountability for decisions that get made. We also have our new plan change to work through."
Brown said the PC120 will enable council to stop building on flood plains and intensify where it makes sense, determining where and how people live over the next 30-50 years.
"I want to see a continued focus on not wasting money, and getting better value out of projects. With things like Fairer Funding, no local board received less funding, although some boards got more than others.
"This term, I expect local boards to focus on underutilised land and assets, just as any ratepayers would with their household budgets. Recycling is the right thing to do."
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board will be chaired by Alexis Poppelbaum and Jake Law as deputy chair, while Howick has Bruce Kendall as lead, with Kai Zeng, Krish Naidu and Jack Collins sharing the deputy role for each year.
Kaipātiki Local Board's chairperson is Danielle Grant, with Melanie Kenrick and Paula Gillon as shared deputies.
Albert-Eden Local Board have chosen Margi Watson and Christina Robertson as chair and deputy chair, while Izzy Fordham will lead Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board with deputy chair Chris Ollivier.
For Devonport-Takapuna, Trish Deans and Scott MacArthur are the new chair and deputy chair, while the Waitematā Local Board will be led by Alexandra Bonham, and deputy chair Anahera Rawiri.
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Ōrākei, Manurewa, Upper Harbour, Puketāpapa have yet to hold their inaugurations.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
