Waipā’s new mayor says he will decide on his deputy after a series of one on ones with the new council.
Marcus Gower, left, is considered a dark horse to become MIke Pettit’s deputy.
Mike Pettit updated The News from a two-day mayoral induction conference on Monday via a text message.
“I’m part way through my one on ones with elected members so can assure you no decision will be made by me to put forward until I have finished this important and informative process,” Pettit said.
He expected to finish his one on ones early next week.
Clare St Pierre said Waipā’s next deputy mayor should hail from outside of Cambridge.
Pirongia based St Pierre, who missed out to Cambridge based Pettit, told The News on Monday that she had not discussed the deputy role with Pettit.
“I would absolutely be interested in it, because of my experience,” St Pierre said.
Clare St Pierre is proud of her association with conservation work around mounts Pirongia and Maungatautari. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
St Pierre was first elected to the council in 2007 and has been re-elected in the six subsequent elections.
She saw the role as a logical “next level up” step for her.
“It depends on what Mike is looking for in a deputy,” she said.
Maungatautari-based Mike Montgomerie, who was re-elected unopposed after one term, was asked whether he was keen.
“I have got absolutely no comment,” he said. “I have not had my one on one with Mike Pettit yet.”
Liz Stolwyk, left, and Stu Kneebone.
Meanwhile, former Waikato Regional Council member Stu Kneebone is making plans having lost his Waipā- King Country seat to Liz Stolwyk – Waipā’s deputy mayor for the last three years.
Kneebone, who received 9100, 62 votes behind Stolwyk, said he would focus on his Whitehall dairy and sheep farm in the short term.
“I have deferred maintenance to do, and don’t have any other plans at the moment,” he said. “I have had quite a long run, but I feel like I have done my bit. Liz will do a good job,” he said.
Both sitting Waipā-King Country councillors – Kneebone and Clyde Graf were voted out.
Garry Reymer – 2025
Garry Reymer who farms near Cambridge and supports the Act Party’s push to halt Plan Change One before the Environment Court makes its final ruling, topped the poll.
The plan change seeks to govern water entering the Waikato River with a slew of new rules for farmers.
Reymer said he disagreed with former council chair Pamela Storey’s take that only the government could halt the plan change process.
“I think there is room still to give the council time to explore this a bit further,” he said. “That could buy time. I know it’s splitting hairs, but it’s an important hair to split.”
Reymer, already deep in regional council onboarding, said he would step back from the Waikato Federated Farmers Executive while providing some economic and finance input to the team.
Mike Pettit swearing in 2022
