Maverick mayor quits deal
It’s the year when every Waikato council signs an agreement to collaborate, but this time around a rural mayor isn’t playing ball.
The Waikato Regional Triennial Agreement 2019-22 is an agreement signed encouraging Waikato local governments to communicate, collaborate and maintain fair processes across the region.
Required by the Local Government Act, every three years each mayor is authorised to sign the agreement on behalf of their council, but Matamata-Piako’s mayor Ash Tanner has refused to do so.
At a Matamata-Piako District Council meeting on Wednesday, Tanner was not specific about his reasoning, but said he doesn’t believe there is a fair playing field among the councils.
Instead, deputy mayor Neil Goodger approved the agreement, seconded by councillor Teena Cornes and Tanner opposed.
‘‘I’m not comfortable signing it as mayor,’’ Tanner said. ‘‘I have an issue at the moment ... that will come out in a couple of weeks with something they’ve [a council] put us into in a legal sense.
‘‘It’s basically around the protocols of this agreement where we work together openly and basically help each other . . . And I don’t believe they are.’’
All councils within the region must enter into a triennial agreement covering the period until the next triennial general election of members by March 1, following the elections.
A council staff member clarified that if council oppose there would be a mediation process relating specifically to the terms of agreement, which is generally resolved ‘‘between good cooperation’’.