Wairarapa upbringing fuels fond memories

One of the three people who will decide the future path of local government in Wairarapa was herself born and raised in the district.

Local Government Commissioner Anne Carter is the daughter of author and historian the late Mita Carter and his wife Pat Carter of Pirinoa.

Ms Carter said yesterday she was born in Martinborough and is a ex-pupil of Pirinoa School and Kuranui College.

She later attended Victoria University in Wellington and has not lived in Wairarapa since 1980.

"I have the best of both worlds. I live and work in a vibrant capital city and I was born and raised in one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand," she said.

Ms Carter said while her links to Wairarapa are important to her she will be professionally focused on making sure the process which will determine the district's future governance is "open, fair and robust". "I will be applying the law and all the evidence will have to stack up.

"My professional experience has been with central government where I have extensive experience in policy and service delivery.

"I was heavily involved in the work to reorganise local government in Auckland," she said.

Ms Carter worked in a top position with the Department of Internal affairs from 2004 to 2010 and more recently was executive director of the Pike River Royal Commission.

Earlier roles included working at the Office of the Auditor General, as chief executive for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and as acting chief executive for the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

Only last week Ms Carter, along with fellow commissioners Basil Morrison and Grant Kirby visited Wairarapa to address all three district councils on the progress of the district's reorganisation and the future agenda for governance.