Former policeman Benney sworn on to Whangarei District Council

Gavin Benney makes declaration and speech as he is inducted into WDC. With Mayor Sheryl Mai. 14th December 2017 Photo Tania Whyte

Building relationships was the theme of new district councillor Gavin Benney's maiden speech.

Mr Benney was formally sworn on to the Whangarei District Council on Thursday as a councillor after winning the Denby Ward byelection.

The father and grandfather was a policeman for 30 years - 22 of those as the sole charge officer in Hikurangi.

He said being in the police taught him a lot of things.

"In particular it gave me a lot of experience on how to handle myself in situations and how to build relationships with people."

Building and maintaining relationship was a skill he hoped to bring with him on to the council, he said.

Since leaving the police he has gone into business, owning a gym and a pub.

He said that had given him more experience about building relationships, but also given him a better understanding of business - something else he hopes to bring into his role as a councillor.

"I'm here not as a job, I'm here as a passion and I want to get in and I want to do some stuff."

Mr Benney read an excerpt from the foreword of the book he wrote on his 30 years in the police - the forward written by a gang member.

The gang member said what set Mr Benney apart was that he really cared about his community. He said whenever he heard young guys go off about the police, he told them: "I knew a good one".

"I'm hoping when it's time for me to leave the council that I'll be a good one here too," Mr Benney said.

He abstained from voting on the items in Thursday's agenda as he hadn't been involved in them leading up to that point.

Mr Benney won the byelection with 841 votes, ahead of second-placed Matt Keene with 635.

The byelection was held after former councillor Jayne Golightly resigned after learning she was not a New Zealand resident and therefore ineligible.