Community board members sworn in

The Rotorua Lakes Council's Rural Community Board (from left) Shirley Trumper, Chris Sutton, Euan McLachlan and Bob Martin.

Shirley Trumper has been elected chairwoman of the Rotorua Lakes Council's Rural Community Board and Phill Thomass will be chairman of the council's Lakes Community Board.

Both were elected unanimously by their community board colleagues after the boards were officially sworn in by Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick after a powhiri at the council this afternoon.

Mr Thomass was the only remaining member of the lakes board after this year's election, while the rural board did not require an election as only four people put their names forward for the four positions.

The lakes board is made up of Nick Chater, Jim Stanton, Fred Stevens and Phill Thomass.

The rural board is made up of Bob Martin, Euan McLachlan, Chris Sutton and Shirley Trumper.

The Rotorua Lakes Council's Rural Community Board (from left) Shirley Trumper, Chris Sutton, Euan McLachlan and Bob Martin.

Mrs Chadwick welcomed the new board members saying they would contribute significantly to the Rotorua district's future and she hoped her new council would agree to have a member from each board serve on council committees alongside members of the Te Tatau o Te Arawa Board.

The only item on the agenda for the combined meeting was the election of chairpeople and board deputies, which went ahead with little fuss.

Deputy chairman of the lakes board will be Jim Stanton and deputy chairman of the rural board will be Chris Sutton.

Mr Thomass said he acknowledged his predecessors on the lakes board, especially former chairman Geoff Palmer, and looked forward to the challenge.

"Our roles have expanded and the area of our community has expanded as well.

"We now have been promised a fantastic relation with council and an opportunity for real engagement and without those who went before us we would not have been able to achieve that."

Mrs Trumper thanked Rotorua for allowing the rural community to have a voice around the council table after being "sadly neglected" for many years.

"It would be nice to think in three years' time we also generate the enthusiasm we get in our community ... for people to come on board and hold an election.

"I'm a new broom and I like to sweep things clean and we are looking forward to a positive interaction when it is our chance to speak at the council table."