Butler happy to just get on with it

Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler. Photo / File

After celebrating the Hawke's Bay reorganisation poll result with family, friends and supporters at his home, Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Peter Butler said he was now looking forward to "just getting on with the job".

On waking yesterday, he said the overwhelming feeling for both he and his wife Jeanette was relief that the process was over.

"It was five years ago that Lawrence [Yule] first presented on this to our council.

"For three years it's been in the back of our minds, and for the last two years it's been at the front of our minds.

"It's made my job less pleasant than it should be."

The outcome came on the back of two other wins for Central Hawke's Bay in the past week - the sale of the old Waipukurau Hospital and the Silver Fern Farms' deal with China's largest meat processor, Shanghai Maling, he said.

"The hospital looks like it will be a good result for the community and for those that own shares in Silver Fern Farms there will now be some equity in those shares."

Add to that the prospect of the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme being built and Central Hawke's Bay was looking in good shape, he added.

He said the upcoming mayoral forum tomorrow would be good as well.

"I think we will all be looking forward to that."