New deputy for Napier mayor

Published: 17 March 2026

Last Updated: 30 March 2026

Councillor Graeme Taylor has been appointed to the role of deputy to Napier Mayor Richard McGrath, following a vote taken by Napier City Council today.

He was nominated for the new role by Councillor Sally Crown, with Councillor Nigel Simpson seconding the nomination. No other nominations were received and the appointment was voted in unopposed.

Deputy Mayor Taylor accepted the role with a sense of gratitude to the councillors who had placed their trust in him.

"Leadership is at its best when it brings people together," he said. "When we bring people together we unlock solutions none of us could reach on our own."

He said he accepted the role as an invitation rather than an individual honour.

"I accept this role as an invitation to help weave our strengths together, to build trust and ensure every person in our community feels part of the journey."

Deputy Mayor Taylor is an experienced, sixth-term councillor with strong commercial experience. His recent appointment to the board of Ahuriri Investment Management, which is managing Napier's investment portfolio, reflects this experience.

Deputy Mayor Taylor holds the Parks, Sport and Active Communities portfolio. Additionally, he chairs the Delivery & Regulatory Committee, the Hearings Committee and the Chief Executive Employment Committee. He is a member of the Risk & Assurance Committee, the Reimagining Flood Resilience Steering Group and the District Licensing Committee.

Deputy Mayor Taylor topped the polls in his ward of Taradale in the local government election last October, receiving 4,560 votes.

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