Inangahua Community Board

Many territorial authorities have community boards to help represent and advise Council on community views.

Community boards are elected at the same time as Councils but do not have the same powers. The role of the Inangahua Community Board (ICB) is to help Council to understand and meet the Inangahua community’s needs.

ICB meetings are held two-monthly. Meetings are open to the public unless there is reason to consider some items “public excluded”. Meeting dates can be viewed on Council's calendar.

Public forums

A public forum is held at the start of the ICB meeting to allow members of the community to address ICB.

Any persons wanting to address ICB in person or by Zoom during the public forum section of a meeting should contact the Governance Assistant to make arrangements.

Guidelines for speaking at the public forum have been developed and can be downloaded as follows:

Inangahua Community Board Councillors

Linda Webb

027 331 2090

linda.webb@bdc.govt.nz

Linda's bio and committees

Bio

Linda grew up on a dairy farm in Reefton and was on the Inangahua Community Board for the last three years.

After completing her BSc degree at Victoria University, she gained her Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching.

Over the last 12 years of her teaching career, she has worked in large schools in the Hutt Valley and on the Kapiti Coast, before moving back with her family to teach at Sacred Heart School, Reefton.

She is the Across Schools Lead Teacher for the TOSI Schools Kāhui Ako.

Linda loves a good book, adventure racing and helping on the family farm.

Committees involved

Inangahua Community Board (ICB)
Springs Junction/Maruia Hall Subcommittee
Inangahua Junction Hall Subcommittees
Portfolio Lead Smaller and Rural Communities

Graeme Neylon

03 732 8382

graeme.neylon@bdc.govt.nz

Graeme's bio and committees

Bio

Graeme has been dairy farming in the Mai Mai Valley since 1983 and is still actively involved with the farm on a daily basis. He has returned to Council after a three-year break after first being elected in 1992.

Graeme is a trained commissioner under the Resource Management Act and has held a number of council positions during his elected time.

Graeme and his wife have five adult children and seven granddaughters.

Committees involved

Portfolio Lead Regulatory Environment and Planning
District Licensing Committee (Alcohol Licensing) (DLC)
One District Plan (TToPP)
Primary Health Organisation (PHO)
Inangahua Community Board (ICB)
West Coast Health Localities Project
Reefton Reserve Subcommittee

Inangahua Community Board representatives

Robyn Abbey

027 651 0990

robynabbey@reefton.nz

Robyn's bio

Bio

Robyn moved to Buller with her family in 1992. She managed her own physiotherapy practice for 15-years, after this she moved into occupational health, and has worked in health and safety. Robyn is a keen sportsperson and has competed in many multisport and adventure racing events. Taking it a bit easier now, she enjoys bikepacking, tramping, gardening and walking the dog.

Robyn moved to Reefton in 2016 after a 16-month bike ride back from the UK. She volunteers as a first responder for St John and is involved in Search and Rescue as an active field team member.

She is helping to organise the Inangahua A& P show, and generally enjoys the many activities Reefton, its thriving community, and the fantastic surrounding has to offer.

Portrait of an middle aged men in working clothes

Dean Giddens

0225910717

bcfs@reefton.nz

Dean's bio

Bio

Dean Giddens recently moved to the West Coast to gain more experience in the construction and building industry. Dean also has a strong interest in the local Reefton community and has
recently formed a youth academy for Olympic style boxing and wellbeing of local youth.

With his trade expertise in the engineering field, 30-years of management experience, his coaching background, and currently owning a business, Dean is keen to be involved in and address community issues.

Ashleigh Neil

ah.neil@outlook.com

Ashleigh's bio

Bio

Ashleigh was born in Nelson and moved to Reefton about five years ago for work and to be closer to her family.

She is a member on the Reefton Who Cares House Committee. She is passionate about increasing the awareness of challenges people faced who are differently abled and have accessibility and inclusivity concerns.

Alun Bollinger

03 732 8123

albol@kinect.co.nz

Alun's bio

Bio

Alun Bollinger is a long term member of the Inangahua Community Board being in his third term.

Having grown up north of Wellington, he lucked into a job as a Cinecamera Trainee with the NZBC when he was a teenager. Back in these days, there was only one television channel in black and white.

He left television as a twenty year old and, although he didn’t realise it at the time, he became a freelance cinematographer.

Alun met his wife Helen in the Southern Alps in 1970 when he was working on a mountain climbing film. They married in the Reefton Oddfellows Hall later that year. Moving around a bit, following work and whims, living in an artistic community of musicians and film makers for several years, they eventually found their way to Blacks Point in 1979.

Alun and Helen raised four sons, keep a beautiful and productive garden, and find time to contribute to their community in various ways. Both Alun and Helen have served on the Inangahua Community Board.

Alun Bollinger is member of the NZCS, MNZM, NZ Arts Foundation Laureate.

You may also be interested in

Long Term Plan (LTP)

Living in Buller

Council elections