New South Wairarapa mayor Alex Beijen, and deputy mayor Garrick Emms, right. PHOTO/FILE
MARCUS ANSELM
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Garrick Emms, the newly elected Featherston Ward councillor, was named as South Wairarapa District’s deputy mayor on Wednesday.
Emms, 72, is a tourism consultant, the president of Wairarapa Racing Club, and owner of the Longwood Estate Heritage listed building in the area.
He joins Alex Beijen in a new leadership team for the council.
The appointment was made at the investiture ceremony for the district’s new councillors and community board members.
Beijen, Emms, and four of the nine councillors were new to the table.
“The support I’ve got from people is fantastic,” Emms said.
“The mayor has given me a chance to really broaden my horizons. We’re not just talking Featherston, we’re now talking South Wairarapa, and we need to be all-embracing and really go from there.”
Emms will be on the Maori Standing Committee with predecessor Brian Jephson and Pip Maynard of Martinborough ward.
He will also join Ross Vickery on the Featherston Community Board.
Chairmen for each of the three town boards were also appointed.
Mark Sheppard [Featherston], Ann Rainford [Greytown] and Mel Maynard [Martinborough] will lead meetings this triennium, from December.
Audit New Zealand signed off on the council’s imminent annual report in an extraordinary meeting after the event.
Representatives from the audit body were making their third Wairarapa stop of the day after meetings in Masterton and Carterton.
South Wairarapa District Council chief executive Harry Wilson said the council was in a good position to invest in key capital projects for the coming year.
Big ticket items included Featherston wastewater treatment, the chlorination of drinking water in Martinborough, and improving facilities in Greytown.
Wilson said the council was “very fortunate to be in a sound position to make investment choices”.
