Council committees

This page contains information about Council’s committee structure and responsibilities, current committee members and meeting standing orders. This committee structure was adopted by Council on 3 November 2022.

For committee meeting minutes visit our Agendas and minutes page:

Agendas and minutes

Airport Noise Management Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Phil Halse  

Members

Councillors Nicholas Connop, Marie Olsen

Paul Carrington, Marjorie Abraham-Quinn, Gary Stables, Warwick Taylor (Community representatives)

Mike Chubb (Airport Authority representative)

Bernard Russell (Airport / Tenant representative)

Ken Walker (Airline representative)

Meetings

As required

Quorum

5

Purpose

To consider, and where appropriate make recommendations to council on aircraft noise and concerns that arise from the operation and activities at the Whangarei Airport.

Chief Executive Review Committee

Membership

Chairperson

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo 

Members

Councillors Jayne Golightly, Phil Halse, Marie Olsen, Paul Yovich

Meetings

Quarterly

Quorum

3

Purpose

To oversee the chief executive’s performance and to recommend to council the terms and conditions of the chief executive’s employment and annual remuneration.

Civic Honours Selection Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Jayne Golightly

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo 

Councillors Ken Couper, Patrick Holmes, Marie Olsen, Scott McKenzie, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka

Meetings

As required

Quorum

4

Purpose

To consider nominations for Civic Honours Awards.

Community Development Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Gavin Benney

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Carol Peters

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Nicholas Connop, Ken Couper, Jayne Golightly, Phil Halse, Deborah Harding, Patrick Holmes, Marie Olsen, Scott McKenzie, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka, Paul Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

7

Purpose

To oversee functions of Council that interact, support and provide services for the community, including to disburse funds as determined by the Whangarei District Council Community Funding Policy.

District Licensing Committee

The District Licensing Committee decides contested (opposed) and uncontested (unopposed) applications for:

  • new or renewed liquor licences
  • manager's certificates
  • temporary authorities
  • special licences.

Opposed applications are considered at a public hearing. 

Membership

Chairperson

Commissioner Murray Clearwater

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Ken Couper

Members

Two additional members appointed from the territorial authority list maintained under section 192 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012; list members:

  • Les Andrewes, Paul Dimery, Merv Williams

Quorum

  • Chairperson plus two members (for a Hearing).
  • Chairperson (where no objection to an application has been filed and no matters of opposition raised in respect for an application for a licence or manager's certificate or renewal of a licence or manager's licence). 

Meetings

Weekly and as required

Purpose

To consider and determine all relevant applications under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Exemptions and Objections Subcommittee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Ken Couper

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Deborah Harding, Patrick Holmes, Scott McKenzie

Meetings

As required.

The relevant legislative requirements shall be taken into consideration when setting meeting dates.

Quorum

3

Purpose

To hear and determine objections, appeals and applications in respect of the regulatory functions and responsibilities of Council.

Finance Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Paul Yovich

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Phil Halse

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Ken Couper, Deborah Harding, Patrick Holmes, Simon Reid

Meetings

Monthly 

Quorum

4

Purpose

To ensure than Council finances and other corporate support functions are well managed. Management of disposal and purchase of individual properties within Council’s commercial property portfolio.

Infrastructure Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Simon Reid

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Phil Halse

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Gavin Benney, Nicholas Connop, Ken Couper, Jayne Golightly, Deborah Harding, Patrick Holmes, Marie Olsen, Scott McKenzie, Carol Peters, Phoenix Ruka, Paul Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

7

Purpose

To oversee the management of council’s infrastructural assets, utility services and public facilities.

Risk and Audit Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Rachel Dean – Independent chair

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Patrick Holmes

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Ken Couper, Phil Halse, Deborah Harding, Simon Reid, Paul Yovich

Meetings

Quarterly

Quorum

4

Purpose

To provide assurance to Council that robust, independent and operationally effective controls around operational and financial management practices are in place.

To provide oversight of the risk management of internal controls including but not limited to:

  • Risk management framework
  • Operational risk management
  • Financial risk management
  • Health and safety risk management
  • Compliance with legislation

Strategy, Planning and Development Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Ken Couper

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Scott McKenzie

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Gavin Benney, Nicholas Connop, Jayne Golightly, Phil Halse, Deborah Harding, Patrick Holmes, Marie Olsen, Carol Peters, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka, Paul Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

7

Purpose

To oversee planning, monitoring and enforcement activities, and guide the economic and physical development and growth of Whangārei District.

Te Kārearea Strategic Partnership Standing Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Deb Harding

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Phil Halse

Members

His Worship the Mayor Vince Cocurullo

Councillors Nicholas Connop, Patrick Holmes, Carol Peters, Simon Reid and Phoenix Ruka

Eight mandated hapū representatives: Delaraine Armstrong, Len Bristowe, Sandra Hawken, Simon Mitchell, Tame Te Rangi, Sean Walters, Nicki Wakefield and Hohipere Williams

Meetings

Monthly for formal standing committee meetings, with hui held bimonthly on a marae in accordance with Tikanga.

Note: Marae based hui will be in accordance with Tikanga and as such are outside of Standing Orders adopted under the Local Government Act 2002.

Quorum

8 comprised of 4 councillor and 4 hapū members

Purpose

To enable the primary partners (Council and hapū of Whangārei) to work closely together to achieve the agreed vision:

‘He Whenua Rangatira - Whangārei, a district of prosperity, wellbeing and empowered communities’ and

Agreed mission:

‘Ka tūtuki te Kāwanatanga ā-rohe, ka puāwai hoki te kotahitanga me ōna tini kaupapa - Local Government that works through effective partnership and shared decisions to provide practical solutions.

The Committee provides a platform for high level/strategic discussions and priority setting between the primary partners, with preference given to kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face) and preserving tikanga. Areas of focus include, but are not limited to;

  • Identifying the cultural, economic, environmental, and social issues/decisions of Council that are significant for Māori and the community in the Whangarei District. (Participation)
    Note: Māori in this context is defined as people that affiliate to a whānau, hapū, iwi, mana whenua groups.
  • Ensuring Council complies with statutory provisions that refer to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi).
  • To agree mutual strategic priorities as and when required (Direction)

Terms of Reference

Te Kārearea Strategic Partnership Standing Committee – Terms of Reference(PDF, 189KB)

Standing orders

The Local Government Act 2002 requires council to adopt a set of standing orders. These apply to meetings of council and committees and subcommittees.

Standing orders provide the basis for the orderly conduct of meetings.

All members must abide by the Standing Orders adopted by the Council.

Standing orders(PDF, 868KB) (adopted 15 December 2022)

Terms of Reference

This document contains further explanation of these committees' purpose and responsibilities.

Committee Terms of Reference(PDF, 608KB)