The Waitaki District Council held its meeting there after deciding earlier this year to have a meeting in Otematata and Palmerston before local body elections in October.
Around the table were (from left) Crs Hugh Perkins, Helen Stead and Gary Young, chief executive Michael Ross, Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, council secretary Shelley Vincent, policy manager Fraser Liggett, Crs Jim Hopkins, Craig Dawson, Kathy Dennison and Peter Garvan, with community services group manager Thunes Cloete (left rear). Crs Sally Hope and Kevin Malcolm were absent.
Mr Familton described the meeting as a historic occasion while Waihemo Community Board chairman Rod Philip looked forward to future councils following the lead of this one and holding meetings in rural areas.
The Waihemo County Council was combined with the Waitaki County Council and Oamaru Borough Council when the government required local bodies to amalgamate throughout New Zealand in 1989.
