Mayor to front up to incensed councillors

Wellington City councillors are set to gather today as they meet for the first time since mayor Andy Foster caused controversy by attending a protest at Shelly Bay.

Foster has placed himself on a political tightrope since visiting the site of a protest at Shelly Bay on Sunday. He even helped erect tents in what is shaping up to be a months-long occupation.

While Foster said he saw no issue with his appearance at the protest, which he claimed he thought was a ‘‘community gathering’’, the move has incensed many of his colleagues. A group of councillors is now discussing whether to take action against the mayor, with some floating the idea of requesting an independent review, according to people with knowledge of the discussions.

‘‘The controversial appearance probably reflects the awkward political dynamics facing the mayor this term and it’s no surprise it raised some hackles amongst his councillor colleagues,’’ said Victoria University associate law professor Dean Knight.

Foster’s future relationship with council staff is ‘‘almost untenable’’, according to one councillor, given the protest was in direct opposition to a council decision made only days earlier. Foster was one of six councillors who voted against the sale and lease of council land to The Wellington Company director Ian Cassels for the controversial $500 million Shelly Bay redevelopment. With nine councillors in favour, the proposal passed easily.

The first-term mayor is currently being investigated by the council over claims made by councillor Jenny Condie that he tried to share ‘‘defamatory’’ statements about a former staff member hours before the vote, in an attempt to persuade her and others to vote against the sale. According to a Code of Conduct complaint that will be dealt with by external lawyers, Foster allegedly claimed the information would change Condie’s mind about the narrow Shelly Bay Rd, which has been a big sticking point for the development.

Questioned about his appearance at Shelly Bay, Foster said he thought he was at a ‘‘community gathering’’ but it turned out to be a protest against a development there and the start of an occupation of council land.

Foster helped an occupier with a troublesome tent and his participation in the protest has been labelled as ‘‘astonishing’’, ‘‘disrespectful’’ and undemocratic, by his council colleagues. He declined to respond to attempts to clarify whether he still thought he was at a community gathering when he was helping with the tent.

Cassels had already bought the bulk of the land at the Miramar Peninsula site from Wellington iwi Taranaki Wha¯nui but the validity of that sale is being questioned in the High Court.

Councillors will meet today to discuss a regional spatial plan proposal and a proposed new solid waste bylaw.

‘‘ . . . it’s no surprise it raised some hackles amongst his councillor colleagues.’’

Professor Dean Knight Victoria University