Pita Tipene is new NRC chair, Jack Craw deputy

Northland Regional Councillors have elected Pita Tipene – one of two Te Raki Māori Constituency representatives – as their new chair, with Jack Craw, representing the Whangārei Central General Constituency, elected as his deputy.

Unlike district councils, whose mayors are chosen by the public through local elections, the regional council’s equivalent – its chair – is voted in by councillors.

The election of the chair and deputy was one of the new council’s first formal tasks after councillors were officially sworn in at their inaugural meeting in Whangārei today.

Chair Tipene today paid tribute to the council’s former Chair Geoff Crawford for his work over the previous term of council.

Chair Tipene says councillors are a team that will work collectively on behalf of Te Taitokerau to take the region forward over the next three years.

“My immediate goal is to build unity of purpose amongst councillors, council management and staff on behalf of the people of Northland who we serve.”

Chair Tipene says council needs to focus on its core business and where possible work with the region’s three district councils.  “Together we can do much, much more.”

Meanwhile, also sworn in at today’s meeting were new councillors Colin (Toss) Kitchen (who will represent the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Constituency and who returns to council after a three-year break), John Hunt (Coastal South General Constituency) and Arama Morunga (the other of council’s Te Raki Māori Constituency representatives).

Joining them in taking their oaths of office were returning councillors Craw, Coastal Central Constituency councillor Amy Macdonald (who is currently in Wellington and was sworn in there today), Joe Carr (Far North General Constituency), John Blackwell (Kaipara General Constituency) and Cr Crawford (Mid North General Constituency.)