Alder, Thompson top the official Gisborne District Council attendance figures

"I’m enduring it.”

That was the response from first-term Gisborne district councillor Colin Alder when asked if he had enjoyed his first year on council.

The Gisborne Herald approached Cr Alder, who along with fellow first termer Cr Teddy Thomas, has topped the official Gisborne District Council attendance figures with a 100 percent record by attending all 44 meetings and workshops in the first year of the new council.

Cr Alder said he also attended meetings of council committees he was not on “so my figure would likely be 110 or 120 percent”.

“I’m trying to keep a tab on everything going on — which is not easy.”

Cr Alder said he would like councillors to attend as many meetings as possible.

“If you’re not up with the play, you become a bit of a time-waster at the subsequent meeting.”

Much preparation was required before a meeting, including reading up to 800 pages of council material.

As “a new player” some council material referred to previous meetings held before his own first term began.

Cr Alder was the second-ranked general ward councillor when elected in October 2023.

When asked if council was more difficult, more complex, more time-consuming than originally envisaged, Cr Alder replied, “all of the above”.

He said that when people asked if he enjoyed council he always replied, ”I’m enduring it”.

“The wins are a bit few and far between.

“I  know it’s been a tough year and we have a lot on our plates.

He admits to having trouble with “the line between governance and operation”, but makes no apologies for that.

He has a strong history of involvement on “both sides of that fence”.

“If you can see something glaringly obvious on the operations side, as a manager, to sit there and say nothing . . .”

Cr Thompson also attended 44 meetings and workshops out of 44.

“If I put my name down for something, I’m in 100 percent,” he said.

Council work was demanding and required much preparation.

“I’ve never read so much in my life.

“There’s definitely more laughter on a building site.”

Asked if he was enjoying council he replied, “there’s pros and cons”.

Another first-term councillor, Rob Telfer, attended 98 percent of meetings and workshops, or 49 out of 50.

The best of the rest of councillors recording a 96 percent level of attendances were Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga and second-term councillors Debbie Gregory and Tony Robinson.

Mayor Rehette Stoltz, who can often have other commitments, has an attendance record of 90 percent.

Bringing up the rear were two first-term councillors, the two highest ranked Tairāwhiti Māori Ward councillors when elected in October 2022, Rhonda Tibble and Aubrey Ria.

Cr Ria recorded 70 percent attendance (27 out of 39 meetings and workshops) and Cr Tibble recorded 77 percent (30 out of 39 meetings and workshops).

Cr Ria could not be contacted for this article, but was in touch after it was published to say she has had health issues.