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David Unwin / Things
Aleisha Rutherford was named Palmerston North deputy mayor Wednesday.
Palmerston North’s new deputy mayor is the city’s youngest councilor, Aleisha Rutherford.
He succeeds Tangi Utikere, who resigned after his election as MP from Palmerston North, for the Labor Party.
The council backed Mayor Grant Smith’s election of Rutherford at its meeting Wednesday.
Rutherford is 31 years old and in his third term on the council.
READ MORE:
* Election 2020: Palmerston North council by-election scheduled for February following Tangi Utikere’s victory
* Utikere new Labor candidate from Palmerston North
* Utikere becomes Deputy Mayor of Palmerston North
Smith said Rutherford had shown excellent leadership skills and diligence in her roles as chair of the planning and strategy committee, and deputy of hearings and environmental sustainability committees.
“His enthusiasm and commitment to local government is reflected in his work on various other committees and appointments to outside organizations.”
Smith said he and Rutherford complemented each other’s strengths.
Although councilors unanimously supported his selection, he acknowledged that others had raised their hands for the job and said he could have worked with any of them.
Rutherford said she was excited and touched by her appointment.
He said Utikere had done “a fantastic job” on the role.
“I want to honor him by working with the same level of commitment that he gave.
“‘He is a person of great integrity who will make us proud in Parliament.”
David Unwin / Stuff
Mayor Grant Smith gives Tangi Utikere a parting gift as he leaves one debating room for another.
Utikere, 40, was the city’s first Pasifika councilor and the youngest serving councilor until Rutherford’s election in 2013.
Rutherford said she was grateful for the encouragement he had given her to “speak or step forward” as a councilor.
She would never have imagined three months ago that she would be assuming her role.
It was then that former Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway was stripped of his ministerial portfolios and decided not to run for reelection, and Utikere was selected to replace him as a Labor candidate.
The council formally bid Utikere farewell at their meeting, and the councilors spoke of their wisdom, help, and friendship.
Labor Councilor Lorna Johnson, who campaigned for his election to Parliament, said she was delighted with his success but would miss him at the council table.
Election committee chairperson and National councilor Susan Baty said that despite their political differences, he had been a special friend and would make “a fantastic MP.”
In his farewell speech, Utikere listed the highlights of the last decade at the council, from his first speech on the replacement of the mobile library, through the revision of the District Plan, to the adoption of the benefits of the small city, the vision of the big city’s ambition for the city. .
When he was appointed deputy mayor four years ago, he said his priorities were to focus on problems, have strong debates and make good decisions.
He believed that the council had met those goals.
Renowned for his attention to detail and good procedure, Utikere’s council’s last duty was as chairman of a task force that has revised the council’s bylaws.
He said his only frustration with the council’s conduct was when councilors wanted to re-litigate decisions, even when there was no new information to justify it.
“I have had my share of wins and losses. But once a decision is made, it is in the city ‘s interest to move on. “
Three former deputy mayors, Duncan McCann, Jim Jefferies and John Hornblow, attended the farewell.
Rutherford’s formal installation as deputy mayor and the inauguration of the deputy mayor’s chains are expected to follow.
A by-election to fill the vacancy created by Utikere’s resignation is likely to be confirmed for February 17, and nominations will open on November 24.
