Wairarapa Leader Adrienne Staples Re-elected as GWRC Deputy Chair

Adrienne Staples has been re-elected as the deputy chair of the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) for a third consecutive term. This decision was made during the council’s first meeting of the current triennium, where chair Daran Ponter was also confirmed in his role.

Staples has deep connections to the Wairarapa region, having lived there for many years with her husband. This marks her fourth term on the regional council, following previous terms as deputy chair in 2016 and 2022. Notably, she served as the mayor of South Wairarapa from 2004 to 2016, further solidifying her leadership experience within the community.

Commitment to Wairarapa Community

In her remarks following the meeting, Staples expressed her dedication to representing the unique needs of the Wairarapa community. “I’m very conscious of my Wairarapa roots, and that our regional and our rural needs are often different from our metropolitan neighbours,” she stated. She assured constituents that she would advocate for a strong Wairarapa voice in regional decision-making.

Staples and Ponter’s leadership roles were confirmed unanimously by fellow council members. In her address, Staples emphasized the significance of collaboration among council members. “The achievement of being elected should never be underestimated,” she remarked, acknowledging the challenges ahead.

She highlighted the necessity for teamwork, stating, “We have to learn to work together to make governance decisions for our region as a whole.” The importance of resource availability in decision-making was another key point she raised.

Facing Challenges Together

“The first challenge for us all is learning to live with each other’s idiosyncrasies,” Staples noted. She articulated the complexity of representing diverse viewpoints within the region, saying, “That is not easy, in a region that is as diverse as Greater Wellington.”

In her call for unity, she added, “Finally, don’t be an island. Two heads are better than one. Fourteen plus our backup crew of talented and exceptional staff should be unstoppable.”

Acknowledging the support of her family and friends, Staples credited her husband for his unwavering encouragement throughout her career. She also expressed gratitude to her council colleagues: “Thank you for having the confidence in my abilities to elect me as your deputy chair. I will continue to support our chair, Councillor Ponter, at whatever level is required.”

As Wairarapa faces various regional challenges, Staples is poised to lead with a focus on collaboration and representation, ensuring that the voices of her constituents are heard in the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s decision-making processes.

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