From the mayor

The election campaign is now over and the results finalised. The new South Wairarapa District Council has been sworn in and the hard work begins. The turnout of South Wairarapa voters was at 56.28% which was very good, one of the highest in the country.
As the new Mayor I believe we have one of the most representative councils in New Zealand. We have an equal gender mix, three experienced councillors, six new councillors, a varied age range, rural and urban mix, two Maori and one Samoan councillor.
Our Community Boards are also well represented; the council appointees on the Featherston Community Board are Dayle Harwood and Colin Olds, Martinborough, Pam Colenso and Pip Maynard and Greytown Margaret Craig and Paroa Ammunson. This will ensure we have a wide range of views for debate around the council table.

The by-election for the vacancy on the Martinborough Community Baord will be underway soon. The process, if an election is required, will go into the New Year to complete because of the Xmas, New Year period and the number of working days in January.
On the 16th of October, the region celebrated the centenary of the ANZAC Hall in Featherston in style and pomp fitting the stately building the presence of their Excellency’s the Governor General and Sir David Gascoigne and the Chief of Army, Major General Peter Kelly topped off the ceremony.
The performance by St Teresa’s Kapa Haka Group was outstanding as was the David Dell Singers. The refurbished and renovated hall is now back to its former glory thanks to funding from SWDC and the WW100 Lotteries grant and the superb workmanship of the contractors .The ANZAC Hall is a true Kiwi icon, there is no other like it.
I want to thank the Featherston ANZAC Club for their work sourcing and siting the rock at the front of the hall and the Featherston Community Board for the funding of the flag poles.
Viv Napier