Kaimai Ward councillor Gwenda Merriman is the new Western Bay of Plenty District Council Deputy Mayor.

Re-elected Mayor Ross Paterson has announced the appointment this afternoon at the council's inaugural meeting in Katikati.

Gwenda Merriman is the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's new Deputy Mayor.

Gwenda, who gained unanimous support from fellow councillors for the role, was sworn into the role at the meeting, along with Ross, councillors and community board members.

The 54-year-old mother and wife, now in her second term as a Kaimai Ward councillor, is thrilled and honoured with the appointment, telling SunLive it's a surprise – but a very welcomed one.

'I'm very privileged and I'm looking forward to it.

'I'm honoured to be appointed Deputy Mayor; and I acknowledge the support from the community in being re-elected as a Kaimai Ward councillor.”

'I am confident the Western Bay will continue to be a popular destination in the future. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate my fellow elected members across the district; and I look forward to a strong and productive relationship going forward.”

Ross is pleased with Gwenda's appointment, saying it is testament to her strong contribution during the last three years as Kaimai Ward councillor; and as previous chair of the risk and assurance, long-term plan and annual plan sub-committees.

'Gwenda has been with us now for a period of time where she has shown brilliant skill at governance and the business side of council work.

'She's very strong in those attributes and I see it as being something that I can use in the next three years to take council further forward in the area.”

Gwenda replaces previous Deputy Mayor Paul Thomas, who failed to keep his seat in the Te Puke Ward.

Ross chose the mother and wife from a shortlist of possible candidates, after she emerged as the strongest option in terms of relevant attributes.

'She is an active community person, particularly in the Whakamarama area; and has a strong commercial background in the agricultural and horticultural export sectors.

'Some of the written feedback I had asked for from councillors supported that.”

Along with her deputy role, Gwenda is to chair the council's policy and planning committee.

Gwenda's family's food and agri-business has been based in the Bay region for more than 50 years. Along with her husband Ross, she also operates a 300 ha drystock farm.

Other appointments for the new-look council and community boards to be formally ratified at the first business meeting of Council on Friday, November 15:

Western Bay of Plenty District Council Standing Committees: 2013 - 2016

Policy and Planning Committee

• Chair – Gwenda Merriman (Deputy Mayor, Kaimai Ward)
• Deputy – Karyl Gunn (Maketu-Te Puke Ward)

Operations Committee

• Chair – Don Thwaites (Kaimai Ward)
• Deputy – John Scrimgeour (Maketu-Te Puke Ward)

Finance and Risk Committee

• Chair – Garry Webber (Kaimai Ward)
• Deputy – Peter Mackay (Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward)

Regulatory Hearings Committee

• Chair – Garry Webber (Kaimai Ward)
• Deputy – Ross Goudie (Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward)

Community

• Chair – Mike Williams (Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward)
• Deputy Chair – Margaret Murray-Benge (Kaimai Ward)

The election of a chairperson and deputy for each of the District's five community boards also took place at the meeting.

Waihi Beach

• Allan Sole - Chairperson
• Marilyn Roberts – Deputy

Katikati

• Sam Dunlop - Chairperson
• Brendan Gibbs - Deputy

Omokoroa

• Don Cameron - Chairperson
• John Palmer - Deputy

Te Puke

• Peter Miller - Chairperson
• Grant Dally - Deputy

Maketu

• Shane Beech - Chairperson
• Kelly Henderson - Deputy

Two by-elections are required – one due to insufficient candidates for the Waihi Beach Community Board when nominations closed in August and one due to an councillor elect Graeme Crossman (Maketu-Te Puke Ward) resigning on October 22 citing unexpected business developments.

Under the required timeframe of the Local Electoral Act the earliest a by-election can be held is February 10, 2014.