Committees

This committee focuses on matters relating to social wellbeing and is aligned to Council’s goal of having a connected and safe community. This means it has oversight of things like social housing, the animal shelter, strategic grant funding, civil defence, and city safety.

• Chairperson – Councillor Lorna Johnson
• Deputy Chairperson – Councillor Pat Handcock
• Members – Mayor Grant Smith and Councillors Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Lew Findlay, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Karen Naylor, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin
• Meets every six weeks

This committee considers matters relating to cultural wellbeing and also focuses on Palmerston North’s sport and leisure spaces: playgrounds, parks and reserves, sport fields and facilities. It’s aligned to Council’s goal of being a creative and exciting city and acts as a ‘shareholder’ for the Regent Theatre Trust, Globe Theatre Trust and Te Manawa Museums Trust.

• Chairperson – Councillor Rachel Bowen
• Deputy Chairperson – Councillor Billy Meehan
• Members – Mayor Grant Smith, Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb and Councillors Mark Arnott, Vaughan Dennison, Lew Findlay, Roly Fitzgerald, Pat Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin
• Meets every six weeks

This committee deals with matters relating to economic wellbeing and aligns with Council’s goal of being an innovative and growing city. It acts as ‘shareholder’ for the Central Economic Development Agency and Palmerston North Airport Limited and also has oversight of strategic projects including:

1. Masterplans: Streets for People; Urban Cycle Network
2. Housing development (except social housing)
3. Te Utanganui Central New Zealand Distribution Hub

• Chairperson – Councillor Leonie Hapeta
• Deputy Chairperson – Councillor William Wood
• Members – Mayor Grant Smith, Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb and Councillors Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Vaughan Dennison, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad and Roly Fitzgerald
• Meets every six weeks

This committee oversees Council’s planning and finance activity. It has oversight on the District Plan and power to agree draft bylaws for consultation. It also has financial delegation to:

1. Accept or decline any lease agreement,
2. Vary or waive certain fees or changes, and
3. Agree or decline a contract for the purchase of capital works up to the value of the specified sum, as long as it has been agreed in the Council’s Long Term Plan.

• Chairperson – Councillor Vaughan Dennison
• Deputy Chairperson – Councillor Karen Naylor
• Members – Mayor Grant Smith and Councillors Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Lew Findlay, Pat Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood and Kaydee Zabelin
• Meets every six weeks

This committee considers matters relating to environmental wellbeing and is aligned to Council’s goal of Palmerston North being an eco-city. This means it has oversight of matters relating to sustainability, waters, climate change, resource recovery, and the Manawatū river.

• Chairperson – Councillor Brent Barrett
• Deputy Chairperson – Councillor Kaydee Zabelin
• Members – Mayor Grant Smith, Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb and Councillors Roly Fitzgerald, Pat Handcock, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson and Karen Naylor
• Meets every six weeks

This committee considers matters relating to the wellbeing of Māori in Palmerston North and has a strong focus on the ongoing development of Te Motu o Poutoa. Two Rangitāne representatives sit as appointed members on this committee providing Rangitānenuiarawa expertise.

The chairperson and deputy chairperson switch roles annually.

• Chairperson – Mayor Grant Smith
• Deputy Chairperson – Mr Wiremu Te Awe Awe
• Members – Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb, Councillors Vaughan Dennison, Karen Naylor, Billy Meehan, Kaydee Zabelin, Roly Fitzgerald and Rangitāne representatives, Ms Danielle Harris and Chris Whaiapu
• Meets quarterly

This committee independently oversees the Council’s business assurance function and Council’s responsibilities for managing risk and health and safety reporting. It is chaired by an independent member, adding credibility to this assurance function and bringing auditing skills to complement the elected members’ local knowledge.

• Chairperson – Mr Steve Armstrong
• Deputy Chairperson – Councillor Karen Naylor
• Members – Mayor Grant Smith, Councillors Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Vaughan Dennison, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Orphée Mickalad, William Wood, Kaydee Zabelin and an independent member (currently vacant)
• Meets quarterly

District Licensing Committee

The District Licensing Committee considers alcohol licence applications in Palmerston North. We've appointed 6 people to act on this committee:

• Aleisha Rutherford (commissioner)
• Orphée Mickalad 
• Stewart Davies 
• Vicki Beagley 
• Chantelle Fraser-Clark
• Antonia Crisford   

The committee meets fortnightly, or as and when required.

You can find more information on alcohol licensing in Palmerston North and the committee's decisions on our alcohol licensing pages. 

Hearings Commissioners List

RMA Commissioners (Schedule of external appointments):

• Jane Black
• Dean Chrystal
• Lindsay Daysh
• John Maassen
• Judith Makinson
• David McMahon
• Chris Mitchell
• Miria Pomare
• Reginald Proffit
• Paul Rogers
• Mark St Clair
• Robert Schofield
• Gina Sweetman
• Eileen von Dadelszen

RMA Commissioners (Elected Members):

• Councillor Brent Barrett
• Councillor Lorna Johnson (Chair’s endorsement)
• Councillor Patrick Hancock
• Councillor Leonie Hapeta
• Councillor Karen Naylor
• any other elected member who successfully completes Making Good Decisions accreditation

Panel Schedule: as and when required