# Grey District Council

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Territorial authority in New Zealand

Grey District Council Type Type Unicameral of Grey District Houses Governing Body Term limits None History Founded 6 March 1989 (1989-03-06) Leadership Mayor Tania Gibson[1] Structure Seats 9 (1 mayor, 8 ward seats) Length of term 3 years Website greydc.govt.nz

**Grey District Council** is the [territorial authority](/source/Territorial_authorities_of_New_Zealand) for the [Grey District](/source/Grey_District) of [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand).[2]

The council is led by the [Mayor of Grey](/source/Mayor_of_Grey), who is currently [Tania Gibson](/source/Tania_Gibson)[3]. There are also eight ward councillors.[2]

The council operates five departments: Executive Office, Operations, Corporate Services, Community, Economic Development & Regulatory Services.[2]

## Councillors

- Her Worship Mayor [Tania Gibson](/source/Tania_Gibson)[4]

- Deputy Mayor Allan Gibson

- Eastern Ward: Deputy Mayor Allan Gibson, Cr Robert Mallinson

- Central Ward: Cr Jack O'Connor, Cr Tim Mora, Cr Peter Davy

- Northern Ward: Cr Kate Kennedy

- Southern Ward: Cr Paulette Birchfield, Cr Rex MacDonald[5]

## History

The council was formed in 1989, replacing [Greymouth County Council](/source/Greymouth_Borough) (1868–1989)[6] and [Runanga County Council](/source/Runanga%2C_New_Zealand) (1912–1989).[7]

In 2020, the council had 78 staff, including 10 earning more than $100,000. According to the right-wing [New Zealand Taxpayers' Union](/source/New_Zealand_Taxpayers'_Union) think tank, residential rates averaged $1,739.[8]

In December 2021, the council replaced four senior management roles during a restructure following a critical review.[9] In late October 2022, Council chief executive Paul Morris proposed eliminating 17 executive and middle management roles in favour of creating nine new positions.[10]

On 7 March 2024, Morris resigned as the Council's chief executive, effective immediately.[11] On 13 March, the Greymouth Council appointed former chief executive Paul Prestorius as interim chief executive until a new chief executive could be recruited.[12]

On 15 May 2024, the Council announced that it would be withdrawing from [Local Government New Zealand](/source/Local_Government_New_Zealand), the representative body for local councils in New Zealand. [Mayor of Grey](/source/Mayor_of_Grey) Tania Gibson cited disagreement with the representative body's handling of the previous [Sixth Labour Government](/source/Sixth_Labour_Government_of_New_Zealand)'s [Three Waters reform programme](/source/Three_Waters_reform_programme) as a reason for leaving the organisation.[13]

In late September 2024, Joanne Soderlund was appointed as the Grey District's new chief executive. As the first female chief executive, Soderland had previously served as the chief executive of the [Shire of Tammin](/source/Shire_of_Tammin) in [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia).[14]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result"](https://www.electionz.com/LGE2025Results/ELT56GR25_Result.pdf) (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aboutcouncil_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aboutcouncil_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aboutcouncil_2-2) ["About Grey District Council"](https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-council/about-council/Pages/default.aspx). *greydc.govt.nz*. Grey District Council.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result"](https://www.electionz.com/LGE2025Results/ELT56GR25_Result.pdf) (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result"](https://www.electionz.com/LGE2025Results/ELT56GR25_Result.pdf) (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-councillors_5-0)** ["Grey District Council Mayor & Councillors"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210127093616/https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-council/mayor-and-councillors/Pages/default.aspx). *greydc.govt.nz*. Grey District Council. Archived from [the original](https://www.greydc.govt.nz/our-council/mayor-and-councillors/Pages/default.aspx) on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Greymouth"](https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/greymouth). *Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand*. 1966. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241226031139/https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/greymouth) from the original on 26 December 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FraserB_7-0)** Fraser, B (1986). [*The New Zealand Book of Events*](https://books.google.com/books?id=idTNAAAACAAJ). Auckland: Reed Methuen. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-474-00123-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-474-00123-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RatepayersReport_8-0)** ["Ratepayers Report"](https://www.ratepayersreport.nz/). *ratepayersreport.nz*. Taxpayers' Union.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Naish, Joanne (7 December 2021). ["All senior managers leave after Grey District Council restructure"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240418001110/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127206114/all-senior-managers-leave-after-grey-district-council-restructure). *[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website))*. Archived from [the original](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127206114/all-senior-managers-leave-after-grey-district-council-restructure) on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Naish, Joanne (27 October 2022). ["'Lean and efficient': Grey District Council proposes to disetablish 17 roles, create nine new ones"](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130286165/lean-and-efficient-grey-district-council-proposes-to-disetablish-17-roles-create-nine-new-ones). *[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240530025302/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130286165/lean-and-efficient-grey-district-council-proposes-to-disetablish-17-roles-create-nine-new-ones) from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Council boss quits abruptly after turbulent time"](https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/council-boss-quits-abruptly-after-turbulent-time). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. 8 March 2024. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240403230152/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/council-boss-quits-abruptly-after-turbulent-time) from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Mulford, Meg (13 March 2024). ["Ex-council chief executive to fill in after resignation"](https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/ex-council-chief-executive-fill-after-resignation). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240406160600/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/ex-council-chief-executive-fill-after-resignation) from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Latest council to pull out of LGNZ says it has failed"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240619193342/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/latest-council-pull-out-lgnz-says-it-has-failed). *[Otago Daily Times](/source/Otago_Daily_Times)*. 15 May 2024. Archived from [the original](https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/west-coast/latest-council-pull-out-lgnz-says-it-has-failed) on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Naish, Joanne (27 September 2024). ["New council CEO ready for small-town community"](https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350429027/new-council-ceo-ready-small-town-community). *[The Press](/source/The_Press)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240927061710/https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/350429027/new-council-ceo-ready-small-town-community) from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

## External links

- [Grey District Council](https://www.greydc.govt.nz/)

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v t e Grey District, New Zealand Seat: Greymouth Populated places Greymouth Central Ward Blaketown Cobden Greymouth Central Karoro Wharemoa Eastern Ward Ahaura Blackball Brunner Dobson Haupiri Inchbonnie Kokiri Moana Ngahere Stillwater Taylorville Wallsend Northern Ward Barrytown Dunollie Runanga Southern Ward Paroa Shantytown Geographic features Ahaura River Alexander River Barrytown Flats Big River Lake Brunner Clarke River Crooked River Eastern Hohonu River Greenstone River / Hokonui Grey River / Māwheranui Harper Pass Kangaroo Lake Little Hohonu River Nancy River Ōrangipuku River Otto River Paparoa Range Lake Poerua Poerua River Rough River Taramakau River Upper Grey River Waiheke River Waikiti River Facilities and attractions Arnold Power Station Bell Hill mill tramway Blackball Branch Blackball Museum of Working Class History Greymouth Airport Hannah's Building History House Museum John Sturgeon Park Kotuku Model Bungalow Left Bank Art Gallery Omoto locomotive dump Paparoa National Park Paparoa Track Pike29 Memorial Track Pike River Mine Rapahoe Branch Rewanui Branch Ross Branch Runanga Miners' Hall Shantytown Heritage Park Stillwater–Ngākawau line Tyneside Mine Wingham Park Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Organisations Greymouth High School Greymouth Star John Paul II High School Pike River Coal Scenicland FM Tai Poutini Polytechnic West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society West Coast Rugby Football Union

[42°27′09″S 171°12′27″E / 42.4524633°S 171.2075188°E / -42.4524633; 171.2075188](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Grey_District_Council&params=42.4524633_S_171.2075188_E_)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Grey District Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_District_Council) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_District_Council?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.