Wellington mayor accused of undermining council vote
WELLINGTON: Wellington Mayor Andy Foster says he was not pitching tents with protesters at Shelly Bay, but rather being a ‘‘good camper’’ and helping to fix a broken pole.
Iwi group Mau Whenua met on Sunday to protest a $500 million housing development at Shelly Bay, two weeks after city councillors voted to sell and lease land the council owns there.
Mr Foster, a longtime opponent of the development plans, voted against the deal.
Mr Foster was photographed on Sunday helping Mau Whenua members with the tents, wearing his suit, after attending a formal reception at Government House.
Controversy erupted after the photos were posted online, as Mr Foster had seemingly declared war on his own council.
However, he said that was ‘‘absolutely not’’ the case.
He said he was invited to a ‘‘community gathering’’ scheduled at Shelly Bay on Sunday afternoon at 2pm.
‘‘At that stage they had some tents up and they had a broken pole. I was being a good tramper and camper — I helped them with the broken pole. The tent was already up.
‘‘There has been more written about a broken tent pole than seems reasonable at this stage.
‘‘Some people want to take one and one and make about 16.’’ Some councillors were angry. Cr Tamatha Paul said Mr Foster’s behaviour was a ‘‘display of total disregard for the will of council he is supposed to be leading’’.
Cr Fleur Fitzsimons said the council’s focus should be on things such as fixing water and transport infrastructure.
Cr Rebecca Matthews said they had all agreed to put the vote behind them.
‘‘I would have done, had the vote gone the other way, so I see the mayor going and participating in the occupation as undermining our decision as a council.
‘‘There’s always going to be disagreements, and people are free to express their opinion, but the mayoralty does require you to rise above.’’
Cr Jill Day said Mr Foster’s actions were disrespectful and showed little understanding of the position iwi were in.
When asked if he knew the invitation was from Mau Whenua, or that they were planning to occupy the land, Mr Foster said, ‘‘To be honest . . . I’d actually have to pass on that one. I knew there was a gathering, and I knew there were quite a number of different parties and people involved in it.’’
Mau Whenua believes iwiowned land should never have been sold to developers in the first place, alleging the deal failed to get the necessary support from 75% of Taranaki Whanui members to go ahead.
A case is scheduled to be heard in the High Court in March.
Asked what could be expected of his relationship with Mau Whenua in the future, Mr Foster said, ‘‘It’s not my intention to be going and spending a lot of time over there, no.’’ — The New Zealand Herald