New chair elected to Te Pataka ō Rakaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board

The new chair for Te Pataka ō Rakaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board plans to keep tackling the big issues facing her community.

Little River business owner Lyn Leslie was elected uncontested as board chair on Monday replacing former chair Reuben Davidson, who has stepped down from the role to run for central Government.

Mrs Leslie is the board member for the Wairewa Subdivision and was elected to the community board in 2022.

She said she was enjoying her role as a board member and looking forward to her new responsibilities as board chair.

Lyn Leslie being sworn into her role as chair.

The board has just released its Community Board Plan 2023 - 2025, and there is a “lot on it”, she said.

“The board’s priorities are community development, flood mitigation and climate resilience. My focus is listening to the community so we can move forward together.”

Mrs Leslie says her priority is serving her community, through serving the community board.

She moved to Little River in 2016 with her husband and two children. She was attracted to the area’s strong sense of community and had wanted to help develop that further.

Mrs Leslie has been a member of the Little River Wairewa Community Trust since 2018 and has a background in tourism and marketing and owns a marketing business based in Little River.

Davidson is yet to resign his role as the Te Pataka ō Rakaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board member for Lyttelton.