Meet the Rotorua rural team
The Rural Ward Councillor and Rural Community Board
are the rural community’s link to Rotorua Lakes Council.
They are here to serve the rural communities of Rotorua.
Ben Hollier
Rotorua Rural Community Board (Deputy Chair)
I live on a lifestyle property in Hamurana and consider Rotorua home. This is my second term on the Board, and I'm committed to improving our rural infrastructure, so that we can secure a positive future for our rural communities. To this end, the board receives funding from Council to assist with projects in rural areas. We are always on the lookout for new projects that we can help fund, so I encourage rural residents to get in touch, or attend one of our regular meetings.
Contact: ben.hollier@rotorualc.nz
Colin Guyton
Rotorua Rural Community Board (Chairperson)
I went to Reporoa Primary school and Reporoa college. After careers as a Radio Technician with the Post Office and a police Officer, I returned to share milk on my parents farm with my wife Shelley in Reporoa in 1991. We have since purchased our own farm in Reporoa.
I have always shown an interest in our local town and want to give back to my community. This was an opportunity to help our rural members have some say in the way our communities function and are supported by council. As well as this role I am currently the president of the Rotorua/ Taupō branch of Federated farmers and these roles compliment each other.
Contact: colin.guyton@rotorualc.nz
Rachelle Clark
Rachelle lives in Rotorua and has served on community boards for nine years. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from these other board , and she is passionate about helping create positive outcomes for the rural communities of Rotorua.
Contact: rachel.clark@rotorualc.nz
John Atkinson
John is a dairy farmer from Waikite Valley who has extensive knowledge of the rural sector from his involvement in various rural sector forums.
Contact: john.atkinson@rotorualc.nz
Karen Barker
Rural Ward Councilor for Rotorua Lakes Council.
Karen lives on a dairy farm in Reporoa, is a Registered Pharmacist, artist, and volunteer board member on a non-profit board. Karen is strongly supportive of rural communities while she serves the entire Rotorua District on Council.
Contact: karen.barker@rotorualc.nz
Facebook page: Click here
ph: 027 287 6641
Contact us
You can find the Rotorua Rural Community Board on facebook. Click here
The Rural Community Board meets once a month in the Rotorua Lakes Council committee rooms. Meetings are open to the public and there will be public forums where residents can come along and raise issues that are of interest to their communities.
You can find out more about the Rural Community Board meetings at the link below:
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We put out a regular Rural Connect Newsletter to update residents on what has been happening at Rotorua Lakes Council, and other items that are of interest to the rural community.
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