Pōwhiri welcomes first meeting of new council

A pōwhiri to welcome the new council and community board members elected earlier this month is being held at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 29 October) at the Kaikohe Memorial Hall.

During the pōwhiri, Kahika Moko Tepania will be sworn in as mayor by council CEO Guy Holroyd. It is anticipated that Kahika Tepania will then address the audience before remaining elected members are formally sworn in for the Far North District Council.

The ceremonial start begins the inaugural day of council business and includes the first meeting of the new council at 1pm in Council Chambers, where Mayor Tepania will formally announce Chicky Rudkin as his Deputy Mayor. Kahika is also expected to name all committees that will form the governance structure of the new council. During the meeting, ward councillors will be appointed to community boards, and the meeting calendar agreed.

On Friday 31 October, all three Far North community boards will meet to start their new term of office. Meeting details are:

• 9am - Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board, Turner Centre in Kerikeri
• 11.30am – Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board, Council Chambers in Kaikohe
• 3pm – Te Hiku Community Board meeting, Banquet Room at Te Ahu in Kaitāia.

During the community board meetings, board members will be sworn in, three chairs and deputy chairs will be selected, and meeting dates set.

The inaugural council meeting and all community board meetings will be livestreamed.

A joint pōwhiri of all four Northland councils is expected to be held in Waitangi in the coming months.