Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber has announced his decision to step down from the mayoralty and council at the next local body elections.

The mayor made the announcement during his Waitangi Day speech at Whareroa Marae at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

'I thank the organisers for giving me the opportunity to speak to you for the last time in my capacity as Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty District Council at a Waitangi Day celebration,” says Webber.

The Mayor says when preparing his words for the Waitangi Day commemorations this year, he reflected back on what he had said at Hopukiore in 2017 when he was 'a new but aging Mayor”.

On that occasion, he made the point that Waitangi Day is an opportunity for us to stop and reflect 'on how our nation has progressed from that day in 1840 when our historic treaty was signed, and to look forward in genuine partnership to build a better nation for those who will follow us”.

In his speech Webber referenced the 1907 korero of Sir Maui Pomare at the tangi for the celebrated leader, prophet and Chief Te Whiti o Rongomai, the 1949 writings of Sir Apirana Ngata to his niece Rangi Bennett and a paper written by Dr Stephen Tauwhare in 2008, speaking of changing the old order, and an old fishing net making way for the new.

Webber, who turned 75 in February 2021, was a WBOPDC councillor for two terms before standing for mayor. He is into his second mayoralty term with eight months left to run.

'In the last 12 years, I have tried my best to walk in the shoes of others and have read much about past leaders to better understand the full history of Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Webber.

'So, as I reflect on my years as the Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty District Council I accept that on October 6 it is time for this old net to step aside and make way for a new net.”

'I've always maintained that I don't believe anyone over 75 years of age in New Zealand should be putting their name forward for local government,” says Webber.

'The reason for that is we're supposed to be there sorting out the future for future generations. I think at 75 years of age you're past the point where some are not as in touch as they should be.

'Therefore I've made this commitment. I am past 75 and will not be standing at the next elections. If you believe in principles, then I say live them don't just say them. That's the reason for it.”

By the time he's completed his mayoralty he would have completed 14 years of public service, starting with the Ōmokoroa Community Board for nearly two years, followed by two terms as a Western Bay of Plenty District councillor doing what he says was his apprenticeship.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayor Garry Webber. Photo: SunLive.

'I think that's fundamental, you need to do some time as a councillor before standing for mayoralty and putting your hat in the ring.”

All up, he will have completed 12 years serving at Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

'I stepped into this because there were a few things happening in Ōmokoroa where I thought that ratepayers deserved better. There may be a few that think I don't think of the ratepayers. If you don't think of the ratepayers you have to ask ‘what are you there for?'”

As well as dealing to the rates issue, a notable highpoint was leading the unanimous council vote in 2020 in favour of returning the 172 hectares of land, commonly known as Panepane Purakau, to the five local hapū that connect to Matakana Island that are part of Ngāi te Rangi Iwi and include Ngāi Tuwhiwhia, Ngati Tauaiti, Te Ngare, Te Whānau a Tauwhao and Ngāi Tamawhariua.

'I am a child of the Treaty and for the last 12 years I have tried really hard to understand the real history of our district and our nation to enable me to try to find the best solutions using a collaborative partnership approach along the lines that Dr Stephen Tauwhare recommends,” says Webber in his Waitangi Day speech.

'In stepping aside I urge you all to remember that Waitangi Day is all about celebrating the coming together of two rich cultures who wanted to build the great nation of Aotearoa New Zealand.”

As to the future, he is hoping to be giving his wife Carole more of his time which previously was often taken up by the 24/7 role.

'For 55 years work has come first but you try and put family in front of it. The dairy industry and the mayoralty have been very time-consuming and are very disruptive to family life, so being able to do a lot of things together which we enjoy doing and getting out to the back of New Zealand and enjoying the scenery appeals to us.”