QLDC councillors, mayor sworn in as triennium begins

The new line up of elected representatives on the Queenstown Lakes District Council was sworn in at a formal ceremony in the Lake Hayes Pavillion today.

Council chief executive Mike Theelan, witnessed mayor John Glover make his declaration before bestowing the mayoral chains on the shoulders of the man who is not only new to the mayoralty, but also new to the council table.

However, if he was nervous about his new responsibilities, it wasn’t apparent to those looking on.

With the mayoral chain firmly in place, John Glover witnessed his councillors make their declarations to the office of councillor.

Niki Gladding, unable to attend the swearing in with her fellow councillors due to ill health, will be sworn in at the inaugural meeting of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board on November 4.

A low-key but solemn ceremony, today’s proceedings are reminder that with the power of an elected representative comes great responsibility.

Kaumatua Dean Whaanga, the representative of QLDC’s Treaty partner Ngāi Tahu, opened today’s ceremony by acknowledging the council’s responsibilities to the region, describing it as being a beautiful place which the council has to look after.

“Be strong in the work that you do,” Whaanga said.

If anyone was in doubt of the solemnity, and weight, of responsibilities of an elected local body politician, QLDC’s General Counsel, Brendan Peet, gave the freshly minted councillors what he described as “a waltz through the legislation”.

A twirl around the dance-floor, this is not.

Peet spoke of the wide-ranging legal responsibilities elected members have sworn responsibility to, from alcohol to dogs, freedom camping to Local Government Legislation, warning them of serious matters such as bribery and corruption, pecuniary interests, conflicts of interest, and freedom of information.

There will be little time for councillors to savour their election success as, after the ceremony, Mayor Glover noted this council has just 1000 days to deal with the challenges in front of them and, as he says, “the clock is ticking”.

Glover says that they will start with “what they can control and communication, how we engage with the community, is a priority”.

“We can’t please everyone, not everyone is going to get what they want, but it’s about the process, how they’re heard and that their views taken account of,” Glover said.

Councillor Quentin Smith was re-elected Deputy Mayor during today’s inaugural Council meeting and all councillors were allocated responsibilities to the region’s Community Associations.

The appointments are as follows:

Albert Town – Kathy Dedo, Arrowtown Village Association and Arthurs Point – Samuel Belk, Cardrona – Niki Gladding, Fernhill – Matt Wong, Frankton – Stephen Brent, Gibbston – Melissa White, Glenorchy – Stephen Brent, Hāwea – Cody Tucker, Kelvin Peninsula – Gavin Bartlett, Kingston – Jon Mitchell, Luggate – Nicola King, Makarora – Cody Tucker, and Mt Barker – John Wellington.

With the weight of QLDC now firmly placed on John Glovers shoulders, and his deputy, Quentin Smith, time will tell just how heavy those mayoral chains are to become.