On this page:
The people of the Waikato region are represented by 12 elected council members. Working in committees, these representatives make decisions and/or recommendations on a variety of environmental matters which are then reported to or decided on by the full council once a month.
Public elections for our regional councillors are held every three years. The next election will be held in October 2010.
Council, committees and subcommittees
Councillors meet monthly (or as required) in committees to look closely at environmental issues and make decisions on or recommendations to the council. The full council generally meets on the last Thursday of each month to consider recommendations and make decisions on a wide variety of activities and policies.
Following is a diagram illustrating the committee structure that was adopted by Council at its Triennial Meeting held on 31 October 2007, and a description of what those committees are.
Finance and Audit Committee
Develops corporate policy, acts as council’s audit committee, monitors the organisation’s performance, reviews and coordinates the Long-Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP), Annual Plan and Annual Report, manages finances and the investment fund, recommends rates, fees and charges.
Members: John Fisher (Chair), Simon Friar (Deputy), Anthony Armstrong, Ian Balme, Peter Buckley, Frank Healey, Jane Hennebry.
Group Manager responsible: Mike Garrett
Policy and Strategy Committee
Formulates new policies and plans to assist in achieving council’s statutory responsibilities, and receives recommendations from the Regional Land Transport Committee on regional land transport policy.
Members: Paula Southgate (Chair), Pat Gregory (Deputy), Anthony Armstrong, Ian Balme, Norm Barker, Peter Buckley, Laurie Burdett, John Fisher, Simon Friar, Frank Healey, Jane Hennebry, Andra Neeley.
Group Manager responsible: Vaughan Payne
Catchment Services Committee
Provides and maintains flood protection, soil conservation works, and drainage programmes and services. Manages flood warning systems and flood control.
Members: Andra Neeley (Chair), Anthony Armstrong (Deputy), Peter Buckley, Laurie Burdett, John Fisher, Frank Healey.
Group Manager responsible: Scott Fowlds
Subcommittees of the Catchment Services Committee
- Aka Aka Otaua Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Coromandel Liaison Subcommittee
- Lake Taupo Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Lower Waikato Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Central Waikato Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Scheme Land Subcommittee
- Thames Valley Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Upper Waikato Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Waihou-Piako Liaison Subcommittee
- Waikato North Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Waikato South Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Waipa Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- West Coast Liaison Subcommittee
Regional Pest Management Committee
Implements the Regional Pest Management Strategy and plant and animal pest control, and oversees Animal Health Board contracts.
Members: Simon Friar (Chair), Laurie Burdett (Deputy), Peter Buckley, John Fisher, Andra Neeley, Paula Southgate.
Group Manager responsible:John Simmons
Subcommittees of the Regional Pest Management Committee
- North Zone Regional Pest Management Advisory Subcommittee
- South Zone Regional Pest Management Advisory Subcommittee
Regulatory Committee
Decides on resource consent related matters and enforces the council’s responsibilities for compliance in accordance with the Resource Management Act (1991) and other legislation.
Members: Ian Balme (Chair), Frank Healey (Deputy), Peter Buckley, Laurie Burdett, John Fisher, Simon Friar.
Group Manager responsible: Chris McLay
Regional Land Transport Committee
Plans and coordinates land transport, coordinates road safety and recommends council's policy on land transport.
Members: Norm Barker (Chair), Paula Southgate (Deputy).
Group Manager responsible: Vaughan Payne
Regional Passenger Transport Committee
To oversee the development, implementation and monitoring of the Regional Passenger Transport Plan.
Members: Norm Barker (Chair), Paula Southgate (Deputy).
Group Manager responsible: Vaughan Payne
Environment Committee
Develops, communicates and monitors environmental programmes such as environmental education, coastal management and management of our natural hazards.
Members: Jane Hennebry (Chair), Pat Gregory (Deputy), Anthony Armstrong, Ian Balme, Peter Buckley, John Fisher.
Group Manager responsible: Tony Petch
Civil Defence Emergency Management Joint Committee
Environment Waikato member: Andra Neeley
Hauraki Gulf Forum
Environment Waikato member: Peter Buckley with Simon Friar as the alternate.
For further information about the Hauraki Gulf Forum, visit the ARC website.
Councillors
Check out our map showing constituency boundaries, and find out more about Environment Waikato's basis for local authority elections, including membership and constituencies.
Central Waikato constituency
Balme, Ian Deane
Chair: Regulatory Committee; Member: Environment Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee.
Phone: (07) 829 8855 or 021 719 920
Email: ian@ianbalme.co.nz
Hamilton constituency
Hennebry, Jane
Chair: Environment Committee; Member: Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee.
Phone: (07) 854 0223 or 021 229 8591
Email: jane.hennebry@ew.govt.nz
Southgate, Paula Anne
Chair: Policy and Strategy Committee; Deputy Chair: Regional Land Transport Committee, Regional Passenger Transport Committee; Member: Regional Pest Management Committee.
Phone: (07) 856 6156 or 021 589 957
Email: p.southgate@paradise.net.nz
Armstrong, Anthony Ian
Deputy Chair: Catchment Services Committee; Member: Environment Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee.
Phone: (07) 829 8609 or 021 224 4708
Email: aiarm@xtra.co.nz
Gregory, Patricia Sally Jane (Pat)
Deputy Chair: Environment Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee.
Phone: (07) 843 7755 or 021 229 7524
Email: pat.gregory@ew.govt.nz
Matamata-Piako constituency
Healey, Bernard Francis (Frank)
Deputy Chair: Regulatory Committee. Member: Catchment Services Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Finance and Audit Committee.
Phone: (07) 888 1630 or 027 432 9617
Email: fj.healey@xtra.co.nz
North Waikato-Hauraki constituency
Buckley, Peter Ross
Council Chairman
Ex officio Member: Catchment Services Committee, Environment Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Regional Pest Management Committee, Regulatory Committee.
Phone: (09) 232 6777 or 021 227 3436
Email: Peter.Buckley@ew.govt.nz
South Waikato-Rotorua constituency
Barker, Norman William (Norm)
Chair: Regional Land Transport Committee, Regional Passenger Transport Committee; Member: Policy and Strategy Committee.
Phone: (07) 883 1839 or 021 815 437
Email: Norm.Barker@ew.govt.nz
Taupo constituency
Burdett, Laurel Beatrice (Laurie)
Deputy Chair: Regional Pest Management Committee; Member: Catchment Services Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Regulatory Committee.
Phone: (07) 378 3025
Email: laurelb@xtra.co.nz
Thames-Coromandel constituency
Friar, Simon Puttick
Chair: Regional Pest Management Committee; Deputy Chair: Finance and Audit Committee; Member: Policy and Strategy Committee, Regulatory Committee.
Phone: 027 592 6322
Email: simon.friar@xtra.co.nz
Waipa-King Country constituency
Fisher, John Walter
Council Deputy Chairman
Chair: Finance and Audit Committee; Ex officio Member: Catchment Services Committee, Environment Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Regulatory Committee, Regional Pest Management Committee.
Phone: (07) 827 3628 or 021 229 8375
Email: John.Fisher@ew.govt.nz
Neeley, Robyn Andra (Andra)
Chair: Catchment Services Committee; Member: Policy and Strategy Committee, Regional Pest Management Committee.
Phone: (07) 873 6946 or 027 327 9233
Email: neeleys@farmside.co.nz