Iwi relationships reaffirmed as new council sworn in
The new Tasman District Council: (from left) John Gully, Paul Morgan, Kit Maling, deputy mayor Brent Maru, Dave Woods, Kerryn Ferneyhough, Dean McNamara, Mayor Tim King, Trindi Walker, Timo Neubauer, Mark Hume, Mike Kininmonth, Jo Ellis, Mark Greening, and Celia Butler. Photo: Max Frethey.
The new Tasman District Council has been sworn in with Brent Maru confirmed as the deputy mayor.
The second-term Motueka councillor was unanimously confirmed as deputy on Thursday last week on the morning after he, and the rest of the council, was sworn in at Te Āwhina Marae.
Brent takes his place as Mayor Tim King’s right-hand man after long-serving councillor and previous deputy mayor Stuart Bryant opted not to re-stand for election.Brent says it feels “awesome” to have the confidence of Tim and the council.
“Council in this world is all about service. So yes, it’s a position, but it’s an ability to continue to serve in a slightly different role.”
He previously ran for mayor in 2019, coming second to Tim after then-incumbent mayor Richard Kempthorne stood aside.
Brent was then elected to the council for the first time in 2022 as a councillor, but he acknowledged those mayoral aspirations “probably still exist”.
“So, to learn from one of the most experienced mayors in the country, and to see if that still is an aspiration – but for now, it’s about representation and it’s just about service.”
Tim says he nominated Brent in part because he had worked with him for a long time, even before his time as a councillor, when he was on the Motueka Community Board and with Sport Tasman.
“He’s always had really strong links in the community, [and] has got a lot of background experience in council processes.”
The new council and its community board members were also sworn in on Wednesday morning.
Tim was inaugurated as mayor, as were the district’s 14 councillors: Celia Butler and Mark Hume (Golden Bay); John Gully (Lakes-Murchison); Kerryn Ferneyhough, Brent Maru, and Trindi Walker (Motueka); Mike Kininmonth, Dean McNamara, and Dave Woods (Moutere-Waimea), Jo Ellis, Mark Greening, Kit Maling, and Timo Neubauer (Richmond), and Paul Morgan (Te Tai o Aorere Māori Ward).
The district rejected its Māori ward in the election referendum – about 10,500 votes against to 8200 for – but marae trustee Miriana Stephens said there was “actually a lot of goodwill” in the community, which would help the marae realise development goals over the coming years.
“That gives me hope… It’s just how we harness that to realise our vision.”
