Tauranga council to be run by commissioner
The dysfunctional Tauranga City Council will have a commissioner appointed to run its affairs, the Government has announced.
Local government minister Nanaia Mahuta announced yesterday that the council had been advised of her intention to appoint a commissioner in response to ‘‘significant governance problems among . . . elected representatives and the findings of an independent review’’.
‘‘I have been closely watching the conduct of the council for a number of months,’’ Mahuta said in a statement.
‘‘I have grown increasingly concerned at the governance issues, and the impact this has on Tauranga ratepayers and significant investment in the region.’’
Over the past few years the council has presided over a myriad of bungled projects, budget blowouts and delayed decisions.
High-profile blunders in recent years include the $14.2 million buyout of the Bella Vista Homes debacle to the $19m Harrington Street carpark that had to be abandoned.
‘‘The council was given the opportunity to address the concerns, but has demonstrated that more direct action is needed,’’ Mahuta said.
The council now has 10 working days to respond to her letter of intention. Its response will be considered before a final decision is made, she said.
‘‘For the ratepayers in Tauranga, I know certainty is important. I am keen to make a decision quickly, so that Tauranga can get on with its critical planning and investment.’’
The city’s mayor, Tenby Powell, tendered his resignation late last month, following an emotionally charged council meeting.
In announcing his departure, he called for a commissioner to step in.
He said the decision by Mahuta to appoint commissioners was an ‘‘early Christmas present’’.
‘‘It is a gift to Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty,’’ he said. ‘‘The impact of NZ’s fifth-largest city has been left to petty politicians. At last, there’s an opportunity for Tauranga to leapfrog forwards the 15 -20 years it has fallen behind.’’
He said those areas included infrastructure, housing and other amenities.
Emails and texts provided after an Official Information Act request by Stuff revealed an increasingly toxic stoush between Powell and councillors.
The former mayor was called ‘‘arrogant’’ and a ‘‘narcissist’’ by councillors, while others said they were sick of the ‘‘plotting and scheming’’ going on behind closed doors.
The messages also showed Powell was concerned about threats to his family in what he called an effort to ‘‘run him out of town’’.
The level of dysfunction was laid bare in a damning independent report, commissioned by chief executive Marty Grenfell following a spate of name-calling, pointscoring and a raft of code of conduct complaints plagued councillors.
‘‘An independent report, commissioned by the council has found numerous governance issues,’’ Mahuta said at the time.
‘‘These issues include councillors having a limited understanding of their governance role, and a failure of its elected representatives to recognise that there are problems.’’
Peter Winder chaired the Review and Observer Team (ROT) and reported back saying he has little confidence councillors could change their attitudes as for some the ‘‘election never ended’’.
‘‘There is a strong tendency to address political differences on a personal basis – attacking people rather than the substance of the ideals, ‘‘ he said.
Powell was not the first casualty of the triennium, with councillor Jako Abrie resigning in October and also publicly calling for a commissioner to replace the embattled council.
In response to the news, acting mayor Tina Salisbury said the council would respond to the notification by December 18, and anticipated Mahuta would make a final decision early in the new year.
She said if commissioners were appointed, it will effectively replace the council’s elected members.