17 November 2021

South Wairarapa District Councillors have voted to fill a vacancy on the Council and offer the position to a former councillor, Colin Olds.

The vacancy arose in the Featherston ward after Councillor Ross Vickery resigned in October.

Mr Olds is a familiar face at the Council, having been a Councillor from 2013 to 2019. He was unsuccessful in the last elections but in that position is now the most eligible person to be appointed.

He will be offered the position and has previously indicated his interest.

The Council chose to appoint a councillor rather than leave the position vacant, with only 11 months left in the three-year council term.

The appointment was made under the Local Electoral Act 2002 in relation to extraordinary vacancies.

Mr Vickery resigned after moving away from Featherston. In addition to being a member of the Council, he held positions on the Featherston Community Board, the Finance, Audit and Risk committee, the Assets and Services committee and chair of the Planning and Regulatory committee.