John Scrimgeour has been named the Western Bay of Plenty's deputy mayor at the inaugural meeting of the triennium.

The Western Bay of Plenty District Council meeting began with a pōwhiri on Monday as mana whenua Ngāi Tamarāwaho welcomed councillors to their roles.

New mayor James Denyer was given the Mayoral Korowai to wear, and after being sworn in donned the mayoral chains for the first time.

It is the first time the korowai was passed from one mayor to another; it was gifted to the council by previous mayor Garry Webber.

Denyer said it was an 'honour and privilege” to be elected mayor and he acknowledged and congratulated the new and returning councillors.

He also paid tribute to the outgoing councillors Monique Gray, Kevin Marsh and Mark Dean, and retiring mayor Garry Webber.

Denyer, a previous Katikati Waihi Beach councillor, said he had 'big shoes to fill” and that Webber had left a 'fine legacy” for the district.

'This triennium will be defined by change. Change because I am a new mayor, change because we shall have major legislative reforms to deal with.”

The reforms included the Three Water reform and repealing of Resource Management Act.

The council would be creating a new district plan, the next long-term plan and progressing a representation review, said Denyer.

The review looks at what form the wards and community boards should take and how many elected members there should be to best represent the district's population

'I intend to lead council in terms of navigating these changes to get the best outcomes for all of us.”

Addressing his councillors, Denyer said: 'We shall be required on occasion to make difficult and courageous decisions and we must not be misled into making the easy or expedient choice.

'But know this, making such decisions is much easier when you know what you are doing what is right.

'I wish my mayoralty to be marked by collaboration, communication, and delivery.”

John Scrimgeour will serve his second term as deputy mayor. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

He named John Scrimgeour as his deputy mayor, who served as deputy in the last triennium.

New councillors Andy Wichers, Richard Crawford, Tracey Coxhead, and Rodney Joyce were sworn in, alongside returning councillors John Scrimgeour and Grant Dally Anne Henry and Allan Sole and Murray Grainger, Margaret Murray-Benge and Don Thwaites.

Council chief executive John Holyoake said he was 'very excited to be working with James, our new mayor, and the rest of our councillors.”

Denyer also appointed councillors to the district's five community boards. The community board members were sworn in and held their inaugural meetings, where a chair and deputy chairperson were chosen.

The councillors appointed to the community boards are:

Katikati Community Board - Councillors Rodney Joyce and Anne Henry.
Ōmokoroa Community Board - Councillors Don Thwaites and Murray Grainger.
Maketu Community Board - Councillors John Scrimgeour and Richard Crawford.
Te Puke Community Board - Councillors Grant Dally and Andy Wichers
Waihī Beach Community Board- Councillors Allan Sole and Anne Henry.

The council's next meeting was set for December 8, 2022.

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