Roles of Elected Members

Mayor

The Mayor is elected by the District as a whole for a three-year term, and as one of the Elected Members, shares the same responsibilities as other members of the Council. Mayors cannot be removed from office by the council.

The role is full time, with a significant professional and personal commitment, including after hours and weekends.

The Mayor has no power to commit the Council to any particular, course of action except where specifically authorised to act under duly delegated authority.

Key responsibilities include:

• Promoting a vision for the Ruapehu District and providing leadership to achieve it;
• Leading the development of council plans, policies, and budgets;
• Spokesperson for the Council and ceremonial head of the Council;
• Presiding at council meetings including ensuring the orderly conduct of business during meetings (as determined by standing orders);
• Providing leadership and feedback to other Elected Members on teamwork and chairing committees;
• Ensuring effective engagement between Ruapehu District Council and our community;
• Appointing the Deputy Mayor;
• Establish Committees of Council, and appoint the chairperson of each committee; and
• Serving as a member of each Council committee.

The Mayor is required to be a Justice of the Peace while holding office as Mayor.

Deputy Mayor

The Mayor appoints one of the elected ward councillors to be the Deputy Mayor. The Deputy Mayor exercises the same role as other Elected Members. The Deputy Mayor may be removed from office by resolution of the Council.

The role requires a significant time commitment, including after hours and weekends.

In addition to the responsibilities of an elected member, the Deputy Mayor is authorised to chair meetings and generally perform functions and duties of the Council in the Mayor’s absence:

Key responsibilities include:

• Attending Council meetings and Hearings, and chair if the Mayor is absent;
• Attending meetings and workshops with council staff and external parties as required for individual projects;
• Reading plans, reports and agendas, and other meeting preparation work; and
• Engaging with the public, including attending events and public meetings, and liaising with residents and community groups.

Councillors

Councillors are elected to represent their communities for three-year terms. There is no limit on the number of terms they may serve. On election all Elected Members, whether elected from the General or Māori Ward, must make a declaration that they will perform their duties faithfully and impartially, and according to their best skill and judgement in the best interests of the entire District.

For the 2025 Local Government Elections, Ruapehu will have three Councillors representing the Māori Ward and six representing the General Ward.

As representatives and leaders of their communities, their role involves setting policies, making regulatory decisions and reviewing council performance (through its annual report and the performance review of the Chief Executive).

The role requires a significant time commitment (approx. 2 days), including after hours and weekends.

Key responsibilities include:

• Attending Council meetings and Hearings;
• Attending meetings and workshops with council staff and external parties as required for individual projects;
• Reading plans, reports and agendas, and other meeting preparation work;
• Representing the interests of the people of the Ruapehu District;
• Engaging with the public, including attending events and public meetings, and liaising with residents and community groups;
• Ensuring prudent use of council resources;
• Law-making (bylaws);
• Monitoring the performance of the Council against stated goals and objectives set out in its Long Term Plan; and
• Employing and monitoring the performance of the Chief Executive (under the Local Government Act 2002 the local authority employs the Chief Executive, who in turn employs all other staff on its behalf).

Unless otherwise provided in the Local Government Act 2002 or in standing orders, the Council can only act by majority decisions at meetings. Each member has one vote and the Chairperson has a casting vote. Any individual member (including the Mayor) has no authority to act on behalf of the Council unless the Council has expressly delegated such authority.

Community Board Chair

Members are elected to represent their communities for three-year terms. There is no limit on the number of terms they may serve. The role of a community board Chairperson is varied with providing the Community Board with strong leadership.

The role requires a time commitment, including after hours up 10 15 hours a week.

Key responsibilities include:

• Chair Community Board meetings;
• Reading plans, reports and agendas, and other meeting preparation work;
• Attending meetings and workshops with council staff and external parties as required for individual projects;
• Engaging with the public, including attending events and public meetings, and liaising with residents and community groups; and
• Advocating for local issues and initiatives on behalf of residents to Council.

For many people membership of a Community Board is their first step in a journey that may eventually lead to a role as a councillor, Mayor or even a Member of Parliament.

For the 2025 Local Government Elections, Ruapehu will have three Community Boards each comprising five elected members and one appointed councillor:

• Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board
• Ōwhango-National Park Community Board, and
• Taumarunui–Ōhura Community Board

Community Board Member

As representatives and leaders of their communities, a Community Board Member's role involves:

• Representing and acting as an advocate for the interests of their community;
• Communicating with community organisations and special interest groups in the community;
• Attending Community Board meetings; and
• Reading plans, reports and agendas, and other meeting preparation work.

Community board members would normally spend up to ten hours a week but this will vary depending on the size of the board and the number of delegated responsibilities.

Further information can be found on the community boards’ web page www.lgnz.co.nz/communityboard