Nine new councillors joined five returning members in being sworn in by chief executive Fiona McTavish.<\/p>\n
McDonald told the Bay of Plenty Times she was \u201coverwhelmed\u201d to be the first wahine M\u0101ori chair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s the broader meaning … it stands out for me for women and … being representative of M\u0101ori.\u201d<\/p>\n
She was \u201cprivileged\u201d and \u201chonoured\u201d to have been selected by her fellow councillors, particularly the nine new councillors who were \u201cjust getting to know one another\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was about looking for change.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDonald said she had worked in local government for more than 30 years, working in operations and management before being elected as the Mauao M\u0101ori Constituency Councillor in 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always had visions myself of what should happen for our constituency.\u201d<\/p>\n
McDonald said some of her proudest achievements as a councillor were \u201cbeing the M\u0101ori voice at the table\u201d and \u201celevating Komiti M\u0101ori\u201d.<\/p>\n
Komiti M\u0101ori provided direction and guidance on the council\u2019s obligations to M\u0101ori, including the growth of authentic partnerships with tangata whenua, emerging issues, legal requirements, effective engagement, awareness and understanding. <\/p>\n
McDonald said Komiti M\u0101ori, which she chaired, was now one of the four \u201ccore committees\u201d, meaning all councillors sat on the committee.<\/p>\n
Since becoming a councillor, McDonald said she had noticed the \u201cimprovement and capacity of hap\u016b\/iwi groups out in the community\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen them grow from strength to strength. It\u2019s still work in progress, but I would love to think that I had a part in that in helping them to navigate council processes, advocating for funding around this table to help them build their capacity … and actually, through the LTP [Long-Term Plan], getting specific funding that was ongoing and not just one-off projects … \u201d<\/p>\n
Bay of Plenty Regional councillors have elected Matemoana McDonald as chair and Glenn Dougal as deputy chair. <\/p>\n
McDonald said the council had a lot of relationship building to do with territorial authorities, communities and te iwi M\u0101ori.<\/p>\n
She said among the council\u2019s biggest issues were Local Waters Done Well and climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be looking seriously at whether or not we actually build a specific committee that\u2019s purely focused on climate change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to leading our council and councillors into the next triennium. I am confident that we\u2019ve got a great team here.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said new councillors were experts in \u201cexactly the areas that we need around the table\u201d.<\/p>\n
This included planners, climate change experts, engineers and meteorologists.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely amazing, and that\u2019s what excites me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillors elected Glenn Dougal as deputy chair. Dougal was serving his first term for the Tauranga General Constituency. <\/p>\n
He was a business owner and trained meteorologist with experience governing community organisations.<\/p>\n