Waitaki District Council
Waitaki District Council Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Waitaki | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Governing Body |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | 6 March 1989 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 11 seats (1 mayor, 10 ward seats) |
Length of term | 3 years |
| Website | |
| waitaki | |
Waitaki District Council (Māori: Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Waitaki) is the territorial authority for the Waitaki District of New Zealand.[2]
The council is led by the mayor of Waitaki, who is currently Melanie Tavendale[3]. There are also 10 ward councillors.[2]
Composition
Councillors
- Mayor Melanie Tavendale[4]
- Ahuriri Ward: Brent Cowles
- Corriedale Ward: John McCone, Sven Thelning
- Oamaru Ward: Rebecca Ryan (Deputy mayor), Mata'aga Hana Melania Fanene-Taiti, Dan Lewis, Jeremy Holding, Courtney Linwood, vacant[a]
- Waihemo Ward: Frans Schlack[2][6]
History
The council was formed in 1989. Its predecessors were Oamaru Borough Council (1866–1989),[7] Palmerston County Council (1872–1966),[8] Waitaki County Council (1876–1989),[9] and Hampden Borough Council (1879–1989).[10]
In 2020, the council had 295 staff, including 40 earning more than $100,000. Waitaki District Council responded to this claim: “As stated to the Taxpayers’ Union many times previously, the numbers we report are for the whole group. This included Waitaki District Health Services, which runs Oamaru Hospital, and the Observatory Retirement Village. The staffing number and salary referred to covers doctors and other specialist medical staff who care for our community but are not council employees”.[11]
According to the Taxpayers' Union lobby group, residential rates averaged $2,343.[12]
Notes
- ↑ Following the death of councillor Jim Hopkins.[5]
References
- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 "About Waitaki District Council". waitaki.govt.nz. Waitaki District Council.
- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ Broadcaster and Waitaki councillor Jim Hopkins dies, Stuff, 27 July 2026. Accessed 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Mayor and councillors, Waitaki District Council. Accessed 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966:Oamaru
- ↑ North Otago Museum
- ↑ McKenzie, Dorothy and Budd, Arthur. Waitaki County Council 1877 – 1977. Thos. Bracken & Co. Ltd., Oamaru, 1976
- ↑ McDonald, K.C. White Stone Country. North Otago Centennial Committee, Oamaru, 1962
- ↑ "Waitaki council rejects 'vanity project' claim about $32m Ōamaru event centre project". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ↑ "Ratepayers Report". ratepayersreport.nz. Taxpayers' Union.