Four chase Waipa seats

Clockwise from top left: Judy Sherriff, Barry Quayle, Stu Kneebone, Clyde Graf

There will be at least one new Waikato King Country representative on the regional council when votes are counted in the local body elections.

Stu Kneebone’s constituency colleague, Andrew MacPherson, was not among the nominees when the door closed at noon last Friday.

MacPherson’s absence from the list of nominees at the end of last week was noted by Hamilton constituency councillor Barry Quayle – the current council chairman.

Quayle made a late decision to switch from the Hamilton to the Waikato King Country constituency – a move which appears sensible given he is planning to move into the constituency.

There are four contenders for the two seats.

Former chairman Russ Rimmington’s anti-Three Waters ticket is represented by Clyde Graf. Graf, a former regional councillor, has a colourful background and is strongly opposed to the use of 1080.

The fourth contender is company director and long-time Waikato resident Judy Sherriff.

MacPherson told The News his decision not to stand again was related to personal issues that he did not plan to share – but he was enthusiastic about the quality of candidates and the council itself.

“I’ve enjoyed my term, I’ve tried hard to serve and really deliver on my promises and I think I have added value,” he said.

The council was facing a deluge of regulatory changes but had skilled professional staff.

“The building blocks are in place,” he said.

Today Country Life presents the list of candidates for the regional council.

Hamilton (4 seats)

Chris Hughes, Russ Rimmington, Bruce Clarkson, Jennifer Nickel, Meshweyla Macdonald, Angela Strange,

Ngā Hau e Wha (1)

Tipa Mahuta (elected unopposed)

Nga Tai e Kuta (1)

Kataraina Hodge (elected unopposed)

Taupō –Rotorua (1)

Simone Stevenson, Mich’eal Downard

Thames Coromandel (1)

Walter Maher, Dennis Tegg,

Waihou (2)

David Waine, Justus Katzur, Anita Goodman, Glen Dunbar-Smith, Anaru Adams, Robert Cookson, Chris Van der Aa, Philip Sherwood,

Waikato (2 seats)

Pamela Storey, Jennifer Hayman, Fred Lichtwark, Noel Smith

More Recent News

Plan ahead on expressway

Motorists travelling on the Cambridge section of the State Highway 1 (SH1) Waikato Expressway are advised to plan ahead, with a northbound left lane closure scheduled for both Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 March, followed…

Council boosts media following

Waipā’s communication and engagement team issued 66 media releases in the three months from November 1 to keep the community engaged and updated on the council’s work. Many were picked up and published in full…

Inflation welcomed …

Giants were at Albert Park in Te Awamutu on Friday evening as the Balloons visit Waipā event brought fun and colour for all ages. The hot air balloon visitation coincided with the annual Hamilton-based Balloons…

New light shed on St Paul’s

A window through which the residents of the settlement of Rangiaowhia looked, is in place after critical restoration work. Christchurch based conservators have restored the 170-year-old window at the altar of St Paul’s Anglican Church…