A pōhiri at Waipatu marae this morning has welcomed the newly elected Hastings Mayor and councillors to their roles.
Hosted by the marae community, the occasion preceded the formal swearing in of the new Council at its first meeting of the triennium on November 11.
Hastings Mayor, Wendy Schollum acknowledged past councillors and the new team of community leaders elected last week.
“Each one of us brings unique experience, insight, and passion for Heretaunga Hastings. Together, we are united in service to the people who have chosen us,” she said.
“This election was about choosing the kind of district we want to carry forward, and we are looking forward to positioning Heretaunga Hastings as an affordable, future-ready place to live and thrive, with a council that leads openly and transparently, listens carefully, and thinks long-term.”
Mayor Schollum also acknowledged the strong partnerships Council had developed with mana whenua and tangata whenua.
She said that while the Māori Ward referendum result meant Hastings could not keep its Takitimu Māori ward beyond 2028, Council’s strong partnership with Māori would continue to be built on, ensuring Māori voices remained heard and valued at every level of council decision-making.
“In my eight years on Council I have seen how that partnership and collaboration has strengthened our decisions and grounded them in place – as mayor I intend to continue that spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.”
She said that while there were challenges ahead – families under financial pressure, housing affordability, ongoing Cyclone Gabrielle recovery, and the impact of central government reforms – there were also opportunities.
“We can work smarter together to find solutions that allow our strong, diverse and resilient community to thrive.”
