How councils work

Political decision-making at Tasman District Council is shared between the Council and Community Boards. The Mayor, councillors and community baord members are voted in by the people on the electoral roll.

The Mayor

The Mayor is elected by all Tasman District voters and leads our Council.

The Council

The Council focuses on the big-picture and on region-wide strategic decisions. It consists of the Mayor and 13 Councillors, who are elected by voters from the five wards in Tasman District.

Council committees

Council establishes committees to enable effective decision-making. Committees pass resolutions, which contain actions foor staff to carry out.

Community Boards

Community Boards represent the communities in their area and make decisions/advocate to Council on some local issues, activities and facilities.

Both the Golden Bay and Motueka Community Boards have four members each, elected by voters from the area they represent (i.e. Golden Bay or Motueka Wards). Each Community Board also elects a chairperson.

Elected members have different roles and responsibilities. Payments for elected members are set by the independent Remuneration Authority. The figures below apply from 1 July 2019.

Mayor

The Mayor leads Tasman District Council and chairs the Full Council.

• Full time (a significant professional and personal commitment, including after hours and weekends is required)
• Annual remuneration $145,904

Key responsibilities:

• promoting a vision for Tasman District
• providing leadership to achieve the vision
• leading the development of Council plans, policies and budgets
• ensuring effective engagement between Council and the people of Tasman District
• appointing the Deputy Mayor
• establishing committees of Council and appointing a chairperson for each committee.

Deputy Mayor

The Deputy Mayor is appointed by the Mayor from the elected ward Councillors and serves on Council with Councillors.

• Annual remuneration $51,201 (attendance at additional meetings after hours/on weekends is required)

Key responsibilities:

• same role as Councillors and, additionally, Mayoral roles (if Mayor is absent or incapacitated)

Committee Chairperson

Each Committee Chairperson is appointed by the Mayor from the elected ward Councillors and serves on Council with Councillors.

• Annual remuneration:
  • Standing Committee Chairperson $47,262
  • Committee Chairperson $43,325

Key responsibilities:

• same role as Councillors and, additionally, presides over all meetings of the Committee, ensuring that the Committee acts within the powers delegated by Council
• Committee Chairpersons may also be called on to act as official spokespersons on issues within the terms of reference for their Committees

Councillors

• Annual remuneration $39,386

Key responsibilities:

• attend regular Council and Committee meetings
• attend hearings
• attend meetings and workshops with Council employees and external parties as required
• read plans, reports and agendas, and other meeting preparation work
• engage with the public, including attending events and public meetings, and liaising with residents and community groups
• work alongside the Chairperson and members of Community Boards in their ward to address issues raised by their constituents.

Community Board Chair

• Annual remuneration:
  • $13,103 (Golden Bay)
  • $14,606 (Motueka)

Key responsibilities:

• oversight of the Community Board’s activities
• fronting media enquiries
• representing the Community Board at a District level
• leading Community Board meetings and maintaining conduct.

Community Board member

• Annual remuneration: 
  • $6,551 (Golden Bay)
  • $7,303 (Motueka)

Key responsibilities:

• make decisions on local matters, as delegated by Council (e.g. how targeted Community Board rates are spent)
• engage with, and represent interests of, their local community
• prepare an annual submission to Council re expenditure within the community.

Elected members' code of conduct

For expectations of being an elected member:

• Download the Elected members' code of conduct.