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Aaron Hawkins has officially been sworn in as Dunedin’s Mayor.
Family, friends, and members of the community packed the Dunedin Centre’s Fullwood Room for the official swearing in of the Mayor and councillors this afternoon, and the first council meeting of the new term.
After the Mayor and councillors were led into the room by a bagpiper, Edward Ellison opened the meeting with a mihi whakatau.
Mr Hawkins was then sworn in during a ceremony officiated by Dunedin City Council chief executive Sue Bidrose.
After donning the mayoral robes and chains, Mr Hawkins presented his formal welcome.
He outlined his hopes for a term of building upon work already started, saying the council had inherited significant projects and would start to deliver on them.
"It's less of a reset than it is a fresh start,'' he said.
He said the election results showed the community was comfortable with the direction the council was heading in.
In a lighter moment, he also thanked those watching proceedings via livestreaming - including his mum.
While the meeting was mainly ceremonial, there were a few minor moments of discord.
The most significant was Councillor Lee Vandervis arguing against the remuneration for committee chairs.
The motion to approve councillor remuneration for the term was passed, with all but Cr Vandervis in favour.
It outlined annual remuneration of $71,488 for councillors, $85,786 for committee chairs, and $90,790 for the Deputy Mayor.
Cr Vandervis, who was not offered a committee chair role, said the extra work taken on by committee chairs did not justify the amount of additional pay.
