Kia Ora,

The first couple of weeks in my new role have been quite literally and figuratively a whirlwind. The recent weather event that swept through our district brought severe north-westerly winds gusting up to 120 km/h in exposed areas. More than a thousand properties, particularly in the southern part of the district, were left without power, including two cell towers, and over thirty roads were closed. We saw fallen trees, downed powerlines, and flying debris causing disruptions.

As Mayor, it was the first time experiencing a Civil Defence plan in action, and I was genuinely reassured by the professionalism, coordination, and dedication of everyone involved. While it wasn’t a major civil defence emergency, the event still tested our systems and demonstrated how quickly our communities and response teams can rally when needed.

A huge thank you goes out to our resilient communities, our roading crews, local contractors, power companies, emergency services, Council’s Incident Management Team, Civil Defence Manawatū-Whanganui, and the many supporting agencies who worked behind the scenes to keep people safe and restore essential services. Your efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and the district is grateful.

Last Thursday, we also celebrated the official swearing-in of the new Council team at the Dannevirke Town Hall. It was a proud and humbling moment to stand alongside new Deputy Mayor Sharon Wards and our fellow elected members, surrounded by whānau, friends and members of our community, as we took our oaths of office. This was followed by our first proper council meeting the next day. Our induction is continuing as we also finalise our governance structure.

Being elected to represent the people of Tararua is an honour none of us take lightly. Together, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves, listen, and work hard to deliver positive outcomes for our communities.

Here’s hoping for more sunshine and a little less wind as we move further into spring!

Ngā mihi nui, many thanks.