On this page: Council, committees and subcommittees, councillors, central Waikato constituency, Hamilton constituency, Matamata-Piako constituency, North Waikato-Hauraki constituency, South Waikato-Rotorua constituency, Taupo constituency, Thames-Coromandel constituency, Waipa-King Country constituency
The people of the Waikato region are represented by 12 elected council members. These representatives work in committees and make decisions and/or recommendations on a variety of environmental matters which are then reported to or decided on by the full council once a month.
Public elections for our regional councillors are held every 3 years. The next election will be held in October 2013.
Council, committees and subcommittees
Councillors meet monthly (or as required) in committees and subcommittees to look closely at environmental issues and make decisions on or recommendations to the council. The full council generally meets on the last Thursday of each month to consider recommendations and make decisions on a wide variety of activities and policies.
Click here to find out when the meetings are on.
Click here to read the agendas and minutes for council, committee and subcommittee meetings.
The diagram below illustrates the committee structure.

The following information describes purpose and membership of the committes.
Catchment Services Committee
Provides and maintains flood protection, soil conservation works, and drainage programmes and services. Manages flood warning systems and flood control.
Subcommittees of the Catchment Services Committee
- Aka Aka Otaua Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Coromandel Liaison Subcommittee
- Lake Taupo Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Lower Waikato Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Central Waikato Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Thames Valley Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Upper Waikato Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- Waihou-Piako Liaison Subcommittee
- Franklin Waikato Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Waikato Central Drainage Advisory Subcommittee
- Waipa Catchment Liaison Subcommittee
- West Coast Liaison Subcommittee
Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
A joint committee comprising a representative from each participating council within the Waikato region to provide governance and oversight of all planning, coordination and delivery of Civil Defence Emergency Management within the Waikato region CDEM area.
| Members |
Group manager responsible |
| Simon Friar |
Scott Fowlds |
| Phillip Legg (first alt) |
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| Jane Hennebry (second alt) |
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Finance and Audit Committee
Develops corporate policy, acts as council’s audit committee, monitors the organisation’s performance, reviews and coordinates the Long-Term Plan (LTP), Annual Plan and Annual Report, manages finances and the investment fund, recommends rates, fees and charges.
Future Proof Implementation Committee
A joint committee of Hamilton City Council, Waipa District Council, Waikato District Council and the Waikato Regional Council to implement the Future Proof Joint Sub-regional Growth Strategy.
Hauraki Gulf Forum
For further information about the Hauraki Gulf Forum, visit the Auckland Council website.
Lake Taupo Protection Project Joint Committee
Oversees the activities of the Lake Taupo Protection Trust through the Statement of Intent, which is approved yearly by the joint committee on behalf of the funding partners and Ngati Tuwharetoa (as kaitikai of Lake Taupo).
Policy and Strategy Committee
Formulates new policies and plans to assist in achieving council’s statutory responsibilities, and receives recommendations from the Regional Land Transport Committee on regional land transport policy.
Subcommittee of the Policy and Strategy Committee
- Land and Water Quality Subcommittee
Regional Transport Committee
Plans and coordinates land transport, coordinates road safety and recommends council's policy on land transport. Prepares the Regional Land Transport Strategy and Regional Land Transport Programme.
| Members |
Group manager responsible |
| Norm Barker (Chair) |
Vaughan Payne |
| Paula Southgate (Deputy) |
|
Regional Passenger Transport Committee
Oversees the development, implementation and monitoring of the Regional Passenger Transport Plan.
| Members |
Group manager responsible |
| Norm Barker (Chair) |
Vaughan Payne |
| Paula Southgate (Deputy) |
|
| Russ Rimmington |
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Regional Pest Management Committee
Considers issues relating to the implementation of the Regional Pest Management Strategy and operational issues relating to biosecurity activities and biodiversity related pest management.
| Members |
Group manager responsible |
| Laurie Burdett (Chair) |
John Simmons |
| Lois Livingston (Deputy |
|
| Stu Kneebone |
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| Russ Rimmington |
|
| Peter Buckley (ex officio) |
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| Simon Friar (ex officio) |
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Resource Use and Environmental Monitoring Committee
Monitors and reports on environmental performance trends and the effectiveness of and compliance with council’s resource management responsibilities and activities associated with policy implementation.
Councillors
Check out our map showing constituency boundaries, and find out more about the Waikato Regional Council's basis for local authority elections, including membership and constituencies.
Central Waikato constituency
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Stark, Theresa Marie
Deputy Chair: Regulatory Committee
Member: Catchment Services Committee, Environment Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee
Phone: 021 941 314 Email: theresa.stark@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Hamilton constituency
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Armstrong, Anthony Ian (Tony)
Deputy Chair: Catchment Services Committee
Member: Environment Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee
Phone: (07) 829 8609 or 021 224 4708 Email: tony.armstrong@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Hennebry, Jane
Chair: Environment Committee
Member: Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (second alt.), Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee
Phone: 021 229 8591 Email: jane.hennebry@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Livingston, Lois Anita
Chair: Regulatory Committee
Deputy Chair: Regional Pest Management Committee
Member: Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee
Phone: 021 704 293 Email: lois.livingston@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Southgate, Paula Anne
Chair: Policy and Strategy Committee, Regional Public Transport Committee
Deputy Chair: Regional Transport Committee
Member: Finance and Audit Committee, Future Proof Implementation Committee
Phone: 021 589 957 Email: paula.southgate@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Matamata-Piako constituency
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Legg, Phillip Murray
Chair: Finance and Audit Committee
Deputy Chair: Environment Committee
Member: Catchment Services Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee; Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (1st alt.)
Phone: 021 220 7314 Email: phillip.legg@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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North Waikato-Hauraki constituency
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Buckley, Peter Ross
Council Chairman
Ex officio Member: Catchment Services Committee, Environment Committee, Regional Pest Management Committee, Regulatory Committee
Member: Future Proof Implementation Committee, Lake Taupo Protection Joint Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Finance and Audit Committee
Phone: 021 227 3436 Email: peter.buckley@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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South Waikato-Rotorua constituency
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Barker, Norman William (Norm)
Chair: Regional Transport Committee
Member: Policy and Strategy Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Regulatory Committee
Phone: 021 815 437 Email: norm.barker@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Taupo constituency
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Burdett, Laurel Beatrice (Laurie)
Chair: Regional Pest Management Committee
Member: Lake Taupo Protection Project Joint Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Regulatory Committee, Finance and Audit Committee
Phone: 021 248 0112 Email: laurie.burdett@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Thames-Coromandel constituency
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Friar, Simon Puttick
Deputy Council Chairman
Ex Officio Member: Catchment Services Committee, Environment Committee, Regional Pest Management Committee, Regulatory Committee
Member: Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Policy and Strategy Committee, Finance and Audit Committee
Phone: 027 592 6333 Email: simon.friar@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Waipa-King Country constituency
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Kneebone, Stuart Thomas (Stu)
Chair: Catchment Services Committee
Member: Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Regional Pest Management Committee
Phone: (07) 827 3079 or 021 943 055 Email: stuart.kneebone@waikatoregion.govt.nz
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Rimmington, Russell Mathew (Russ)
Deputy Chair: Finance and Audit Committee, Policy and Strategy Committee, Regional Public Transport Committee
Member: Regional Pest Management Committee
Phone: 027 671 1434 Email: rimmington@xtra.co.nz
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