Betsy Reymer with Catholic Bishop Richard Laurenson
Betsy Reymer was excited to attend the swearing in of her son and daughter-in-law as regional councillors last week.
Garry Reymer, mum Betsy Reymer, and daughter-in-law Liz Stolwyk. Photo: Chris Gardner
Reymer, 91, of Te Awamutu, beamed proudly from the public gallery as her son Garry Reymer and daughter in law Liz Stolwyk were sworn in.
Asked how she felt about having two politicians in the family, she said: “very excited.
“I hope that they keep in good health, keep going, and achieve whatever they aim for. I hope they achieve something.”
The new Waipā and King Country ward members have pledged to prioritise finding a way to pause on the council’s Plan Change One before it costs the region $5 billion and some farmers their business.
The calculation came from immediate Waikato Federated Farmers past president and new Waihou ward member Keith Holmes.
Councillors were given two minutes to speak before signing their pledge.
Holmes cheekily asked chief executive Chris McLay if he could use the time other councillors had not spoken for but was told to keep his remarks to two minutes.
Holmes spoke of the irony that a country built on risk had become risk averse.
“Most of us are in New Zealand because we were running away from something,” he said.
