The Rangitikei District Council is the local government authority for Rangitikei District in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Rangitikei. Since October 2013, the Mayor of Rangitikei is Andy Watson, who succeeded Robert "Chalky" Leary. The council consists of a mayor who is elected at large, and 11 councillors elected across five (three in 2019) wards, one of whom gets chosen as deputy mayor. The councillors are elected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system in triennial elections.
History The Rangitikei District Council was established in 1989 as part of the 1989 local government reforms.
Up to 2019 the District had five wards: Bulls, Hunterville, Marton, Taihape and Turakina. In 2019 the number of wards was reduced to three: Northern, Central and Southern. In 2022 the Northern and Southern Wards changed from three to two members and two new wards Tiikeitia ki Uta (Inland) Māori and Tiikeitia ki Tai (Coastal) Māori were established.
Council membership 2025–2028 The council elected in the 2025 local election is as follows: MayorAndy WatsonCouncillors Northern ward Jeff WongDiana Baird Central ward Fi DalgetyDave WilsonJohn HainsworthAlan BuckendahlSandra Field Southern ward Paul SharlandGraeme O'Fee Tiikeitia ki Uta (Inland) ward Piki Te Ora Tiikeitia ki Tai (Coastal) ward Coral Raukawa Taihape Community Board Gill DuncanPeter Kipling-ArthurDe-Anna GreenMelanie Pera Rātana Community Board Jason HihiraRuthie LawrenceCharlie MeteGrace Joan Taiaroa
2022–2025 During the 2022–2025 term, the composition of the Council was as follows: MayorAndy WatsonCouncillors Northern ward Gill DuncanJeff Wong Central ward Fi DalgetyRichard LambertSimon LoudonGreg MaughanDave Wilson Southern ward Brian CarterPaul Sharland* Tiikeitia ki Uta (Inland) ward Tracey Piki Te Ora Hiroa Tiikeitia ki Tai (Coastal) ward Coral Raukawa Taihape Community Board Emma AbernethyLes ClarkePeter Kipling-ArthurGail Larsen Ratana Community Board Lequan MeihanaCharlie MeteJamie NepiaGrace Taiaroa Jarrod Calkin resigned on 7 December 2023. A by-election to replace him was completed on 12 April 2024. Paul Sharland was declared elected.
2019–2022 During the 2019–2022 term, the composition of the Council was as follows: MayorAndy WatsonCouncillors Northern ward Gill DuncanAngus GordonTracey Hiroa Central ward Cath AshNigel BelshamFiona (Fi) DalgetyRichard LambertDave Wilson Southern ward Brian CarterJane DunnWaru Panapa
2016–2019
During the 2016–2019 term, the composition of the Council was as follows: MayorAndy WatsonCouncillors Bulls ward Jane DunnGraeme Platt Hunterville ward Dean McManaway Marton ward Cath AshNigel BelshamLynne SheridanDavid Wilson Taihape ward Richard AslettAngus GordonRuth Rainey Turakina ward Soraya Peke-Mason
2013–2016
During the 2013–2016 term, the composition of the Council was as follows:
MayorAndy WatsonCouncillors Bulls ward Tim HarrisRebecca McNeil Hunterville ward Dean McManaway Marton ward Cath AshNigel BelshamMike JonesLynne Sheridan Taihape ward Richard AslettAngus GordonRuth Rainey Turakina ward Soraya Peke-Mason
2010–2013
During the 2010–2013 term, the composition of the Council was as follows:
MayorChalky LearyCouncillors Bulls ward Michelle FoxSarah Harris Hunterville ward Dean McManaway Marton ward Mike JonesRichard PeirceLynne SheridanAndy Watson Taihape ward Richard AslettJan ByfordEd Cherry Turakina ward Soraya Peke-Mason
2007–2010 During the 2007–2010 term, the composition of the Council was as follows:
MayorChalky LearyCouncillors Bulls ward Sarah HarrisJill Strugnell Hunterville ward Grant Collie Marton ward Mike JonesKathleen MurphyLynne SheridanAndy Watson Taihape ward Don BrownJan ByfordEd Cherry Turakina ward Soraya Peke-Mason
References
External links Rangitikei District Council official website Information about the Rangitikei District Council on LocalCouncils.govt.nz