Skills and qualities to be a successful Elected Member

Commitment

You will often work outside of normal working hours, in the evenings and on weekends.

Time management skills are essential as being an Elected Member and representing the views of our community requires a lot of preparation.

You will be expected to read agendas, minutes, plans, policies, bylaws, reports, submissions, advice, recommendations and various other materials.

You will need to be flexible and able to prioritise and manage your time effectively.

Communication and engagement

You will be in the public eye as a part of your role.

You will often be called upon to speak publicly at meetings, events and give comments to media on certain issues.

You will need to be able to listen to, relate to, and empathise with the people you represent, and consider their views in your decision-making.

You should be able to confidently communicate your own views and opinions when speaking publicly and when engaging with the public. You will also represent and promote Council in a measured, unified and dignified light and avoid risks to Ruapehu District Council’s reputation

A large part of the role will involve technology, so you should know how to use email, Zoom, a smartphone and a computer or tablet.

Strategic thinking and quality decision-making

You need to be able to make good decisions based on a range of sources when making decisions. For example, you will get advice from Council staff, listen to the views of your community, and consider your own wisdom, experience and informed judgement.

You need to be able to balance conflicting views, consider the financial and long-term consequences of decisions, have an eye to risk, and keep an open mind.

You also need to understand the District's priorities and how they relate to national and international developments, as well as how relationships between Council and Community Boards work, so you can get an idea of what decisions you may be able to influence.

Relationship building and collaboration

Delivering outstanding service to the Ruapehu District is very much a team effort. As a part of your role, you need to build and maintain productive relationships and networks within the community and with other organisations to create and deliver on the vision and outcomes.

You should be willing to respectfully engage with people from different cultures and disciplines, including community members and council staff.

Elected members need to be fair and open-minded, to help deal with any criticism and questioning from the public.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi

Knowledge of local iwi, te ao Māori and tikanga is an asset in your role as an elected member.

We are committed to meeting our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi and developing our partnership with Māori.

Political acumen

You should have an understanding of the political environment as well as the respective roles of governors and management and relevant legislation.

As an Elected Member, it is important to understand the role of the council and its financial language, budgets and processes.

Integrity and trust

The community you represent will look to you to take ownership and responsibility for your actions. You should not misrepresent yourself or others for personal gain.