Waikato District Council has confirmed its new committee structure and appointments for the 2025–2028 triennium, with a focus on strengthening local participation and empowering communities such as Raglan.
Mayor Aksel Bech says the new structure streamlines decision-making and brings greater clarity to roles and responsibilities across Council.
“By delegating more decision-making authority to Council committees and Community Boards, and strengthening the voice of communities, the new structure aims to improve responsiveness, transparency, and local participation,” says Mayor Bech.
Among the changes is the establishment of a new Community Voice & Choice Committee, designed to drive change toward community empowerment by strengthening community voice, participation, and resilience. A new Roading Subcommittee has also been introduced to guide strategy and policy implementation on roading issues.
Mayor Bech says the Community Voice & Choice Committee has been set up to strengthen how Waikato District Council listens and partners with its communities.
“At its core, this committee’s role is to embed empowerment and participation as everyday practice. It fosters relationships with iwi, hapū, marae, community groups, and anchor institutions to enhance shared leadership and community wellbeing,” he says.
The committee also carries governance oversight of Council’s civil defence and emergency management functions.
Raglan Ward Councillor Lisa Thomson has been appointed Chairperson of the new committee, with Councillor David Whyte as Deputy Chairperson.
The three all-of-Council committees provide governance oversight and delegated decision-making authority on key areas of Council business:
Assets & Infrastructure Committee
Chairperson: Deputy Mayor Cr Eugene Patterson
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Mike Keir
Strategy, Growth & Finance Committee
Chairperson: Cr Marlene Raumati
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Grant Coombes
Community Voice & Choice Committee
Chairperson: Cr Lisa Thomson
Deputy Chairperson: Cr David Whyte
Delegation changes are also being made to strengthen local decision-making through formal Ward Councillor Delegations, enabling recognised community entities — such as community boards, marae committees, and hall committees — to contribute more directly to Council outcomes.
Over the next six months, Council will implement process changes to support three priority areas of delegation for these groups: road naming, community leases, and enhanced discretionary funding.
Other Council committees include:
Policy & Regulatory Committee – Chairperson: Cr Crystal Beavis, Deputy Chairperson: Cr David Whyte
Audit, Risk & Opportunity Committee – Chairperson: Mr Peter Stubbs (External Appointee), Deputy Chairperson: Cr Grant Coombes
Development Agreements Committee – Chairperson: Mr Peter Stubbs (External Appointee), Deputy Chairperson: Cr Grant Coombes
IAWAI Shareholders Forum – Representatives: Mayor Aksel Bech, Cr Eugene Patterson, Cr Lisa Thomson
Roading Subcommittee – Chairperson: Cr Mike Keir, Deputy Chairperson: Deputy Mayor Cr Eugene Patterson