Tararua District Council held its final meeting last week before the local election and the arrival of a new council. The meeting also marked the last for two long-serving councillors who have chosen not to stand again — Councillors Alison Franklin and Kerry Sutherland.

Both reflected on their time around the council table.

Councillor Sutherland said: “In my capacity as chair of the Infrastructure Committee, I’ve loved working with the infrastructure team and building strong relationships with Councillors and staff to improve the district’s infrastructure. With this Council, while we have different viewpoints, our debates were always respectful, and we valued each other’s differences. That’s a real credit to everyone around this table."

Councillor Franklin shared a similar sentiment, saying: "Working as part of this team has been wonderful. Over my nine years on Council, despite differences of opinion, there has never been bad feeling. It’s been an awesome journey, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it."

Both councillors were thanked for their years of service and dedication to the district, with their contributions warmly acknowledged by colleagues.

Councillor Kerry Sutherland 

Councillor Alison Franklin