Buller District Mayor

Jamie Cleine is Mayor of Buller District Council, a role he has held since 2019. He has significant experience in leading communities through natural disasters including emergency declarations for major flood events in July 2021 and again in February and August 2022

As part of a small council team, Jamie had direct involvement in emergency management functions during the response and subsequent flood recovery plans. The increasing frequency and intensity of weather events and the multi hazard risk profile of Westport has required strong partnerships with central government and the regional council in developing a multi-pronged plan to reduce the hazard risk of Westport over time. Utilising the PARA framework, the plan includes construction of flood defences alongside a strategic approach to masterplanning for growth, enhanced emergency management planning and utilising Infrastructure Acceleration Funding to provide enabling infrastructure on less hazard prone land.

Jamie has a strong understanding of the complex adaptation challenges facing communities in response to increasing risk and the need for a long term, strategic and equitable planning approach in partnership with central government.