Kapiti Coast District Council Launches New Chapter

A New Era Begins at Kapiti Coastal District Council Janet Holborough She took over the mayoral chain from her predecessor, K Gurunathan, at the triennium’s first meeting on Thursday night.

At the Coastlands Theater in Te Laukura Ki Kapiti, Paraparaumu, new District Councilors and Community Board members were welcomed with a pofiri under the Te Atiawa Protocol, took the oath and signed the oath.

Representatives of the three iwis from the districts of Te Atiawa, Ngati Toa Rangatira and Ngati Laukawa were also present.

read more:
* Kapiti Coast District Councilor calls for ‘big and bold’ action in planning housing crisis
* Financial projections show ‘case of change’ for water reform
* Waimea dam could flow into new waters

The new Mayor, District Councilor Sophie Handford, and three new Paekakakariki Community Committee members have pledged to fill the role, along with Teleo Maori.

district council made major reforms in the electionsix of the current ten local councilors are serving their first term.

Only Martin Halliday, Jocelyn Purvanov and Sophie Handford have returned as incumbents from the previous three years. Lawrence Kirby, Sherry Warwick, Liz Coe, Glenn Cooper, Rob Coffide and Nigel Wilson were officially welcomed to the table.

The council also unanimously voted Kirby to be the district’s new deputy mayor.

Holborow said it was important for the new council to build trust with iwi and the community to address the challenges ahead.

“The Kotahi Tanga spirit of Whana Unga Tanga is what our council aims to build with our community,” she said. will be strongest in the face of the challenges of

Holborow said the next three years provided an opportunity to think about how people live, provide creative communities and foster business development.

“The world is a completely different place than it was when we were standing here three years ago,” she said. “But here in Kapiti, one thing is certain: It is how people come together in these difficult times to support each other through pandemics, storms, floods and tornadoes.”

Districtwide Counselor Liz Coe, community members Torch Begoichi, Sean McKinley, and Guy Barnes were not present at the ceremony.