New Carterton council sworn in

Carterton Mayor Ron Mark, right, and new deputy mayor John Booth at the inaugural meeting of Carterton District Council held at the Carterton Events Centre yesterday.

Newly-elected Carterton district councillors declared their loyalty and worthiness to take office at the inaugural council meeting in the town yesterday.

Mayor Ron Mark, who stood unopposed, was for a second successive term draped with the mayoral chains after voicing and signing his declaration, and for the first time at the council table three new councillors - Mike Ashby, Greg Lang and Mike Palmers - joined incumbents John Booth, Bill Knowles, Jill Greathead, Elaine Brazendale and Ruth Carter.

At the Carterton Events Centre ceremony yesterday were a crowd of close to 30 supporters and well-wishers, including representatives from Hurunui o Rangi Marae and Taratahi Agricultural Training Center.

Immediately past deputy mayor Elaine Brazendale nominated Mr Booth for deputy mayor and the nomination was seconded by Mr Knowles.

There were no rival nominations made and Mr Booth said afterward he was humbled and "blown away, to be honest".

Mr Mark applauded his councillors for their successful election and thanked representatives from Hurunui o Rangi Marae for the close involvement of the organisation with the ceremony yesterday, which was typical of a treasured relationship that had continued "getting tighter than a drum skin", he said.

"I want to particularly thank you at this inaugural ceremony for the dignity, honour and prestige you bring to our citizenship ceremonies that we've conducted over the past triennium and which we intend continuing.

"We are particularly proud of that service, " he said.

Mr Mark advised new councillors to take advantage of upcoming training courses and "to look left and right" at their more experienced peers when in need of guidance at the council table.

"Their whakapapa is deeply rooted in to this district.

"They have been here since ever and their whanau have been here since ever before that," he said.

"Their networks and their knowledge of the Carterton district and Wairarapa as a whole and their understanding of the issues in Carterton and Wairarapa is very comprehensive.

"It is historic and passed down from generation to generation.

"I have a deputy mayor beside me who is a sixth generation New Zealander, a sixth generation Cartertonian and a sixth generation farmer and person of the land and other families - Bill, Elaine, Ruth, Jill, Mike - go way back and your tender and foothold in this land is very, very well-known."

Mr Mark said councillors would not always "see eye-to-eye with the people we serve" and there would be significant duties, responsibilities and obligations placed upon them that would comprise "the burden of office".