Environment BOP has reinstated regional councillor and school principal Hawea Vercoe after he was stood down because he faced imprisonment.
Vercoe, the principal of Te Kura O Te Rotoiti was found guilty on a charge of threatening to cause grievous bodily harm, but the charge was reduced on sentencing – enabling him to be reinstated on the regional council. The Local Government Act says a person with a conviction that can carry a two year sentence is not allowed to serve as a councillor.

The Rotorua district Te Arawa standing committee was not so forgiving, as the conviction led to him being kicked out of a meeting yesterday.
The committee chairman, Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters, said there was no formal documentation about Vercoe's reduced charge and the earlier imposed suspension for Vercoe remained. It sparked an argument. Vercoe was asked to leave several times and he refused before being taken outside by a kaumatua.
His role as school principal is also under threat. The conviction means Vercoe will now have to face the teacher's registration board.
Information about Vercoe's offending was previously suppressed as he had received interim name suppression at first court appearance.
For Vercoe's reduced sentence he was ordered to pay $400 towards the cost of prosecution for using threatening behaviour towards his former wife's new partner.