Curtain falls on lengthy
spell in local government
17 May 2007
Taranaki Daily News
ONE of Taranaki's longest-serving local body politicians is calling it quits.
Taranaki Regional Council chairman David Walter yesterday became the province's third high- profile leader who will not seek re-election in October. South Taranaki District Council Mayor Mary Bourke and Stratford Mayor Brian Jeffares recently announced their retirements.
Mr Walter's decision ends a 33-year career in local government.
"I thought the time was right and I wanted to go before I stumbled out or was pushed out," he said. "I've seen some others hanging on and I didn't want to be like that."
Mr Walter attended Douglas Primary School and then New Plymouth Boys' High School before leaving at 16 to work on the family farm. He was 34-years-old when he was "bullied" into standing for the Stratford County Council.
"The chairman had held his seat since before I was born," he says.
He was Stratford district's first mayor in 1989, a position he held for three terms, and TRC chairman from 2001.
"I've always been of the view that being involved with local government can get more results than being involved in central government," he says. "You're closer to the people, you don't have to worry about party politics and there is a closer link between advising something and getting it done."
Taranaki has made a lot of progress since Mr Walter's early days in local government and he counts being part of its development in tourism as one of his greatest achievements.
"I think we've started to put Taranaki on the map and it has also been good to have a greater focus on East Taranaki," he says. "The rise of Whangamomona as a republic and the naming of the Forgotten World Highway were among these."
Mr Walter says Taranaki's local government is in good shape but could use some young blood.
"I would like to see more young people prepared to put their hands up and become involved in local government," he says.
"It is not necessarily as time consuming as some of them might think."
Time is something Mr Walter will have more of soon and he admits that not being part of politics will leave a huge hole.
"There's no doubt about that but I have other interests like reading, music, family, golf and I have some oral recordings that need transcribing, so that's a rainy day job."