Five women are set to take their place around the Invercargill City Council table – the highest-ever number to do so consecutively.
This week incoming elected members were officially sworn-in at a ceremony at Invercargill’s Civic Theatre, ahead of the inaugural full Council meeting on Tuesday, 4 November.
Alex Crackett, Trish Boyle, and Ria Bond will return to Council, alongside newly-elected Councillors Andrea de Vries and Lisa Tou-McNaughton.
Crackett, who was elected to Council for the first time at the age of just 25, said she was thrilled to see the increase in women being elected to represent the community.
“Breaking barriers was never the goal, but building something that more accurately reflected the diversity of perspectives in our community was. I’m really proud to stand alongside so many strong and capable women as we shape our community’s future,” Crackett said.
The former principal of a girls’ school in Invercargill, Boyle said it was vital for young women to see themselves represented in a range of spaces.
“When young girls see women leading – whether that’s in government, in the boardroom, on the sports field – they don’t just dream bigger. They know it is possible,” she said.
Bond – a former Member of Parliament, and one of 10 former MPs appointed to the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity – said Invercargill had taken an important step forward.
“Electing five women to Council reflects a community that is ready for a modern and inclusive approach, and one that values balance, experience, and collaboration in local decision-making,” she said.
New Councillor Andrea de Vries said she was delighted to see a variety of perspectives had resonated with the visions of voters.
“By bringing a wider range of voices to the table, we’re ensuring decisions are informed by the realities, ideas, and strengths of our whole community – and that is how we will progress and thrive,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lisa Tou-McNaughton will also begin her first term as an elected member.
“It’s inspiring to see a broad range of voices and experiences represented around the Council table. The inclusion of a variety of perspectives can only lead to stronger decision-making, and a stronger community.”
Council is comprised of 12 elected members. The previous triennium had seen four women Councillors elected: Crackett, Boyle, Bond, and Lesley Soper, who chose not to seek re-election this time around.
