Three mana whenua reps appointed

Three of four spots for mana whenua representatives on Waipā District Council committees have been filled.

Mana whenua representatives, known as Te Kanohi, sit on Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee, Service Delivery Committee, Finance and Corporate Committee and Regulatory Committee. Each has voting rights on their committee.

Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan put Te Kanohi appointments on hold in March, following the resignation of Māori ward councillor, Takena Stirling. Dale-Maree Morgan has since been elected as Māori ward councillor and has helped with the appointment process, O’Regan said.

In appointments confirmed today, Bill Harris was appointed to the Strategic Planning and Policy Committee, Hinerangi Kara to the Service Delivery Committee and Thomas Lord to the Regulatory Committee.

No-one has expressed an interest in the Finance and Corporate Committee, leaving that position unfilled.

The three appointees will attend their first Committee meetings in September.