The Roxburgh woman (42) is one of four new councillors following last week's election.
She is only the second woman elected in the council's nearly 20-year history.
A self-confessed "tomboy", Mrs Whyte was introduced to hunting and fishing by her father.
She said her husband, Bevan Whyte, was also a keen hunter-gatherer.
She decided to stand for the council to ensure the 12 children in her family had "everything I did growing up".
"I want to keep our waterways safe for future generations - what we have left."
Central Otago was a hunter's paradise and she wanted to ensure it was kept that way.
She said she would be juggling the new role alongside her other community commitments, including as a volunteer ambulance officer.
The other new councillors are Colin Aldridge (Central Otago), Ray Grubb (Central Otago) and Mike Turner (Lakes).
The eight councillors who stood again were re-elected, including chairman John Barlow.
