Teviot Valley Community Board members took their declaration of office on Wednesday (November 2) with just two members from the last triennium still at the table, and quickly addressed the ‘Voices for Freedom’ affiliation of a board member.

Councillors Sally Feinerman and Norman Dalley are the familiar faces. 

Norman’s experience on the board was likely a factor in his being elected chair, defeating newcomer Mark Jessop.

Mark took the consolation prize as he was elected unopposed as deputy chair.

Russell Read and Gill Booth are the other two new members.

Read more: Central Otago candidate named as VFF supporter

All adopted the code of conduct and made their way through the largely ceremonial and procedural business without fuss.

However the meeting deviated from the straight-forward when Norman asked new member Gill Booth how her association with anti-vaccine mandate lobby group Voices for Freedom (VFF) may influence her role on the board. 

“...I don’t think it would influence this group particularly much,” Gill said in response.

She acknowledged she belonged to VFF and had “a background” with the agricultural lobby group Groundswell.

“I will be very open and honest - I don’t like the way that LGNZ [Local Government NZ] has become a conduit, and has taken away a lot of council voice.”

She said she was not happy with “the structure of it”. 

Gill Booth speaking during a VFF podcast. PHOTO: Supplied

Sally Feinerman said the board needed to “work as a team”.

She pointed out there are “potentially big projects” coming up in the Teviot Valley area over the coming term, and the group briefly touched on Lake Onslow, Three Waters reform and a large-scale planned gold mine as likely to be significant

issues. 

Mark Jessop stressed to council staff that the board members needed to be kept abreast of key issues to improve communication and information flow with the local community.