NP councillors and their 71 conflicts of interest
New Plymouth district councillors have 71 conflicts of interest between them, it has been revealed.
Councillors must declare conflicts ahead of anything being discussed at meetings, and in some cases have to withdraw from the decision-making.
At the top of the list with the most conflicts – largely made up of other boards and trusts – are Tony Bedford, Richard Handley and Stacey Hitchcock, with nine each.
Councillor Sam Bennett’s company, Speaking Made Easy, has a contract with the council.
At the other end of the scale, Murray Chong, Harry Duynhoven, Colin Johnston and Dinnie Moeahu had no conflicts listed as at the end of March.
Tony Bedford: Taranaki Electricity Trust (trustee), Waitara Services and Citizens Club (member), Hurricanes Alumni (member), Hurricanes Schools Council (life member), Residential Property Owner, Family Trust, Taranaki Electricity Trust, Hurricanes Alumni (trustee), Taranaki Elite Athletes Foundation (council appointee).
Sam Bennett: Speaking Made Easy (ownership of company and contract with NPDC), Full Circle Bespoke Life Events, Heart of Brooklands, New Plymouth Operatic Society (sponsorship manager), Celebrants Association of New Zealand, residential property owner, APJ and DM Bennett and PJ Bennett (family trust), Star Gym (council representative).
Gordon Brown: Taranaki Chamber of Commerce (contracting work), New Plymouth Bowls (club member), Writing Services Ltd (director), Sport Taranaki (chair) (council appointee),
Friends of Pukekura Park (council appointee).
David Bublitz: New Plymouth Boys’ High School (employee), New Plymouth Golf Club (member), residential property owner, Bublitz Family Trust, YMCA Taranaki (board member), Taranaki Elite Athletes Foundation (council appointee), Yarrow Stadium Joint Committee (council appointee).
Anneka Carlson: Pride Taranaki (chairperson), residential property owner, Taranaki Elite Athletes Foundation (council appointee).
Murray Chong: Not advised
Amanda Clinton-Gohdes: Institute of Directors (member), residential property owner, family trust beneficiary, Dress for Success New Plymouth Trust (board member – resigning April 2021), District Licensing Committee (deputy chairperson).
Harry Duynhoven: Not advised
Richard Handley: Cogwheel Investment Club (member), residential property owner, Tainui Rest Home (director), Hadley Tarawera Ltd (sole shareholder and director), Taranaki Retreat, YMCA Taranaki (board member), Taranaki RSA, Vestry of St Mary’s Cathedral (member), Taranaki Regional Council Solid Waste Working Party (council appointee).
Stacey Hitchcock: Casual employment (Department of
Conservation – self-employed contractor), New Plymouth Mountain Bike Club (member), Taranaki Alpine Club (member), residential property owner, Creative Taranaki (no financial benefit), Taranaki Trails Trust (trustee), Zeal Taranaki (Local Advisory Team), Jobhop Limited (shareholder), Taranaki Regional Council Policy and Planning Committee (council appointee).
Mayor Neil Holdom: New Plymouth Mountain Bike Club (member), lifestyle block owner (smallholding), Taranaki Regional Council Civil Defence Emergency Management Committee (council appointee).
Colin Johnston: Not advised
Deputy mayor Richard Jordan: Fun Ho! Toys (director), Inglewood Development Trust (manager/trustee), Inglewood Club (member), TRI (member), residential property owner, commercial property owner.
Dinnie Moeahu: Not advised.
Marie Pearce: rural property owner, Wakefield Family Trust, Inglewood First Trust, Inglewood Mini Golf Trust, Inglewood District Health Trust, Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (council appointee).
■ Community board members also listed their conflicts, with the Kaitake board’s Paul Veric having the most with seven.