Whangarei Mayor returns to work

Whangarei Mayor Morris Cutforth is set to return to work as planned on 1 September 2011, following four months’ leave to recover from a minor stroke in early February.

“I am fit and raring to go.” Mayor Cutforth says, “and very keen to get back involved with the community.

“I am very grateful to Council for allowing me the time off to recuperate but am now ready to get back into things again, and it is time to revisit my election promises and see how things are going.

“One thing I received very positive feedback about is establishing a culture of openness and honesty. I am delighted that the tone we set back at the beginning of the electoral term has been kept going in my absence by Phil Halse as Acting Mayor. He, and the rest of the Councillors, have done a great job while I’ve been away and I am pleased to find Council in such good heart and things going so well in the District.

“The work that has been done at the Town Basin is a real credit to all concerned and I am really getting a sense of excitement about the up and coming events and programmes in the next few weeks.”

While 1 September is his official date of return, Mayor Cutforth has already spent several part days in the office and will officiate at the New Zealand Citizenship Ceremony in the Council Chambers this Friday 26 August.

“I do recognise the importance of the mayor being in the chair, and while I won’t of course run the August Council meeting this week, I will be back in the chair for September,” Mayor Cutforth said.