Representation Review Forum

Geoff is the Chief Executive of Rotorua Lakes Council and has more than 20 years’ experience leading complex, multi-site, client-focussed service organisations.

Before joining Rotorua Lakes Council in July 2013 he was executive director for Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA), the Auckland Council CCO (council-controlled organisation) responsible for the city’s major regional venues.

Geoff has a Masters in Education and Psychology and has also held executive positions in central government agencies, including the Ministry for Social Development. He was Child, Youth and Family’s Regional Director for the Bay of Plenty and Waikato prior to his roles in Auckland.

Gavin is an Acting Lead Advisor with the Local Government Commission. He has been with the Commission for four cycles of hearings of appeals and objections against councils’ final representation review proposals.

Prior to joining the Commission team, Gavin worked in the Department of Internal Affairs’ local government policy group. Among his responsibilities was leading the policy development for the Local Electoral Bill enacted in 2001 and its provisions for representation arrangements inserted in 2002. As a result Gavin has an in-depth knowledge of the representation review process including the STV and Māori representation options.

Janie was appointed by the Minister of Local Government as a Temporary Member of the Local Government Commission in April 2014 and was made a permanent member in July 2014. She chaired the Commission’s Representation Reviews Committee in 2016.

Janie had previously served three terms as the Mayor of Timaru from 2004 to 2013. In 2014 she was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to local government.

Janie has experience across a wide range of private sector, local government and central government roles. She serves on the Boards of the Lottery Community Facilities and Significant Projects Funds.

Dale Ofsoske is Managing Director of Election Services, providing electoral services, including assistance with democratic reviews, to a large number of local authorities.

He is an experienced electoral officer (since 1985), foundation member and deputy chair to the former Taituarā Electoral Working Party, current member of the Taituarā Electoral Sub-Committee and honorary Taituarā member. Dale is electoral officer for a number of councils, including Auckland Council, and brings his expertise and widespread knowledge on electoral matters to this forum.

Janine Hayward is a Professor of Politics at the University of Otago. She publishes in the field of New Zealand politics, with a particular interest in local government politics and electoral systems. She has worked with the Department of Internal Affairs, Dunedin City Council and other councils about the local electoral option. She chaired the Dunedin City Council’s representation review in 2014/2015.

Born in Art Deco Ranfurly on the Maniototo Plain, under clear blue Otago skies.

Educated at the University of Otago (Bachelor of Laws) and Victoria University of Wellington (Master of Library of Information Science (MLIS)).

With a reputation as the DCC’s Ms fixit, she’s a passionate public servant who has worked her way up from raking hot seal with a roading gang to the top job at the DCC where she is the new CEO. Before she began her tour de force at the Council she was the Web Development librarian at the University of Otago, Sandy then took her opportunity to become Webmaster at the DCC and worked her magic all the way to the top, where she is now CEO of the DCC. The sign on her office door (put there by her staff) states “The city’s safe with me” which is her mantra.

Sandy comes with a black belt in the dark arts, a keen sense of politics, a wicked sense of humour and a wide experience in corporate and governance roles.

Jenny Hughey has worked with the Christchurch City Council for the past 10 years primarily with Community Boards. She has been a leader in governance and at the Unit Management level in community and governance. She is currently a Community Governance Manager working with the Papanui-Innes Community Board. Jenny has project led two representation reviews for the Council. Jenny’s previous background is in employment, human rights and justice issues.

Dr Mike Reid, Principal Policy Advisor, LGNZ. After starting his local government career at Christchurch City council Mike has been with LGNZ since 1996, during which time he has worked in a diverse range of policy areas ranging from local governance and social policy to legislative change and local democracy. He currently leads LGNZ’s localism programme. Mike completed his PhD on the topic of strengthening local governance and local government in in 2011 and is currently on the board of the Institute of Governance and Policy Studies. He speaks regularly on local government matters and has published widely.

Gisborne born and bred and living the Wainui beachfront lifestyle Heather is an ex physiotherapist who decided in 2012 she wanted a change from treating patients. She was given an opportunity to cover for Council’s Committee Secretary who was on parental leave – interesting considering she only types with two fingers and now is the Democracy & Support Services Manager. Heather has found working in local government has been a refreshing change from the health sector and says that unlike health, local government has a real ability to effect change at a local level.

James Baty is a Wairoa native and proud to be from ‘Space Coast New Zealand’ home to the world’s only privately-operated space launch site, based on the magnificent Māhia Peninsula. He is currently the Corporate Services Manager and Electoral Officer at Wairoa District Council where he has conducted a number of elections, by-elections, representation reviews and polls. Educated at Victoria University of Wellington, James previously worked at the Ministry of Economic Development (now the MBIE) as an Intellectual Property Advisor.