Newly elected Hurunui district councillor Tom Davies (left) and his son Joe Davies, who has been elected to Environment Canterbury. Photo: David Hill / LDR
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
A father and son are looking forward to making a difference to their region.
Joe Davies was in Amberley on Thursday evening to support his father Tom Davies, a new Hurunui district councillor.
Next Thursday, it will be the younger Cr Davies being sworn in as a new Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillor.
''It is a great honour for the family to be given these opportunities by the people of northeast Christchurch and North Canterbury,'' Joe Davies said.
''There is an element there, where it feels a bit surreal, but it is really positive times for both of us and we hope we can fulfil what we have stood on.''
While the younger Cr Davies stood on the Labour-aligned People's Choice ticket, Tom Davies is an independent.
Joe Davies says politics has always been debated at the dinner table in the Davies household and the wider family.
''I would say we agree on a lot of things, but there are some things we do disagree on, but we do so respectfully.''
The family has a history in politics, but Joe Davies believes this is the first time the family has enjoyed success.
His great-grandfather stood unsuccessfully for the United Kingdom Labour Party for his local council in the 1930s, while his mother stood unsuccessfully for the UK Greens in a local council election.
The family migrated from the south of England in 2005, settling in Christchurch.
But Tom Davies and his wife Lorna soon fell in love with Hanmer Springs, purchasing a holiday home six years ago and settling permanently after lockdown in 2020.
Joe Davies says he plans to back second term councillor Craig Pauling as ECan chair at Thursday's vote.
''He (Cr Pauling) has 20 years experience in environmental science and planning and he brings a very unique style of leadership, which is based on consensus, and he has mana.''
Civil Defence will be a priority for Joe Davies over the next three years, particularly around climate change response.
Six term councillor Vince Daly was re-elected as Hurunui Deputy Mayor.
Cr Daly says it is ''an honour'' to be asked by his fellow councillors to accept the role.
''It keeps you alert at meetings because you might have to step in (for the mayor) at any time.
''We've got some big issues coming up this term with local government reform and for a small council we do a lot of work.
''It is a very supportive council. We don't get into politicking and we try to do our best for our community.''
Mayor Marie Black was sworn in for her second term, and was joined by returning councillors Vince Daly, Robbie Bruerton, Pauline White, Karen Armstrong, Ross Barnes and Fiona Harris.
They were joined by newly elected councillors Garry Jackson (a former mayor), Vanessa McPherson, Tom Davies and David Hislop.
The councillors voted to hold the first ordinary meeting of the new term on Tuesday, 1 November, at 9.30am.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
