Council committees

The committee structure, membership and terms of reference were approved by Council in November 2025.

Below is the committee structure and responsibilities of the committees of Council.

Committees of the whole

Community Development Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Deb Harding

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Marie Olsen

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors Tangiwai Baker, David Baldwin, Crichton Christie, Nicholas Connop, Brad Flower, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka, Matthew Yovich and Paul Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

Purpose

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

Finance Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Paul Yovich

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Crichton Christie

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors Tangiwai Baker, David Baldwin, Nicholas Connop, Brad Flower, Deb Harding, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie, Marie Olsen, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka and Matthew Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

Purpose

To ensure that Council finances and other corporate support functions are well managed and to provide appropriate levels of support to the community and the rest of Council.

Infrastructure Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Brad Flower

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Simon Reid

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors Tangiwai Baker, David Baldwin, Crichton Christie, Nicholas Connop, Deb Harding, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie, Marie Olsen, Phoenix Ruka, Matthew Yovich and Paul Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

Purpose

To oversee the management of Council’s infrastructure assets, utility services and public facilities.

Risk and Audit Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Independent Chair

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Paul Yovich

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors Tangiwai Baker, David Baldwin, Crichton Christie, Nicholas Connop, Brad Flower, Deb Harding, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie, Marie Olsen, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka and Matthew Yovich

Meetings

Quarterly

Quorum

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 Crichton Christie

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Tangiwai Baker

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors David Baldwin, Nicholas Connop, Brad Flower, Deb Harding, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie, Marie Olsen, Simon Reid, Phoenix Ruka, Matthew Yovich and Paul Yovich

Meetings

Monthly

Quorum

Purpose

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

Standing committees

Te Kārearea Strategic Partnership Standing Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Phoenix Ruka

Deputy Chairperson

Councillor Deb Harding

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors Tangiwai Baker, Brad Flower, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie and Simon Reid

Eight appointed hapū representatives: Delaraine Armstrong, Mylie George, Andre Hemara, Neta Kerepeti, Ashleigh Latimer, Kris McDonald, Sheila Taylor and Tame Te Rangi

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

Purpose

To oversee and enhance the strategic partnership between Council and Whangārei hapū, ensuring tangata whenua have input into decision-making, reflecting that all matters within the Whangārei District are of significance to tangata whenua.

Other committees

Airport Noise Management Committee

Membership

Chairperson

Councillor Simon Reid

Members

Councillors Crichton Christie and Marie Olsen

Marjorie Abraham-Quinn, Gary Stables and Warwick Taylor (community representatives)

Mike Chubb (airport authority representative)

Bernard Russell (airport / tenant representative)

Ken Walker (airline representative)

Meetings

As required

Quorum

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

Mayor Ken Couper

Members

Councillors Crichton Christie, Deb Harding, Scott McKenzie, Phoenix Ruka and Paul Yovich

Meetings

Quarterly

Quorum

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 Nicholas Connop

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors David Baldwin, Stephen Martin, Scott McKenzie, Marie Olsen, Simon Reid and Matthew Yovich

Meetings

As required

Quorum

Purpose

To consider nominations for the Civic Honours Awards.

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 Tangiwai Baker

Members

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

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 Tangiwai Baker

Members

Mayor Ken Couper

Councillors David Baldwin, Deborah Harding and Matthew Yovich

Meetings

As required

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

Quorum

Purpose

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

Terms of reference

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

Committee terms of reference(PDF, 636KB)