Council Says ‘Good Bye’ to Long Serving Community Board Members.

This year’s election marks the end of local body politics for two long serving Community Board members. June McCoubrie (Onewhero – Tuakau Community Board) and Ted Lever (Waiuku-Awhitu Community Board) have both chosen to stand down – and after 15 years and 10 years respectively you would have to say they deserve a break!


Both June and Ted feel that they are leaving local politics on a high after a really positive relationship with other elected members and Council staff over the last three years.


“When we first started we were considered a bit of a nuisance, but this Council has recognised there is a place for community boards – that has been really satisfying,’ says June, who’s experienced many Councils over her 15 years.


Ted agrees, saying, “We’ve received a lot of assistance in this last three years, the Councillors have been very receptive of our ideas. There has been more happening in the Waiuku area during the last three years then in the previous seven.”


The legacy of both June and Ted’s time in local politics will be lasting. June and the Onewhero – Tuakau Community Board were involved in the Tuakau Town Hall upgrade and helped organise a new stage for the hall.


‘We had ANZAC day there (in the hall) and we felt very proud to see the stage being used. It’s a lovely old building,’ says June.


Likewise Ted and the Waiuku-Awhitu Community Board were involved with the procurement of land now set aside for the Waiuku Sports Park and had a lot to do with purchasing the Kentish Hotel car park.


June and Ted may be standing down from local body politics but they will still be keenly watching the goings on within the District and especially their local areas.


“I’ve lived in Waiuku for 73 years and I’ve only been away for two years of my life. To me it’s home. There is something about Waiuku that I’m firmly attached to,” says Ted.


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