Tauranga votes for change with Tenby Powell replacing incumbent

Saturday, 12 October 2019

Tenby Powell leads the Tauranga Mayoralty race after 95 per cent of the vote counted.

Tauranga has voted for change with Tenby Powell claiming the mayoralty position with 95 per cent of votes counted.

Powell, who holds the rank of colonel in the NZ Army, beat out the incumbent mayor Greg Brownless in results released at 3.45 pm on October 12.

Incumbent Greg Brownless missed out on reelection in the Tauranga Mayoralty.

Powell campaigned on his ability to forge relationships and partnerships that will bring Tauranga into the future.

Powell was tidying up election signs when he heard the news and was thrilled with the result.

Kelvin Clout missed out on the Tauranga mayoralty but was elected again as councillor.

'I think it's a testimony for the feeling that Tauranga believes its time for new leadership to move the city forward,' he said.

Council election results also promise some new faces alongside the stalwarts with five new councillors elected.

Mount Maunganui-Papamoa Ward saw Steve Morris and Dawn Kiddie elected.

In the Otumoetai-Pyes Pa Ward Jako Arbie and Larry Baldock were elected.

The Te Papa-Welcome Bay saw Tina Salisbury and Terry Molloy win.

Finally, the four at-large councillors are Kelvin Clout, who also ran for mayor, Heidi Hughes, John Robson and Andrew Hollis.

It has been a turbulent few years for Tauranga City Council with a raft of projects suffering failure, overspending and reports identifying poor management and staff culture.

The Bella Vista Homes saga, where homes passed building inspections only to be declared dangerous, resulted in a $14 million buyout which is expected to cost ratepayers about $5 million directly.

Other projects also placed under review were the $11.4 million marine precinct, the $2.5 million replacement of the car park with Porotakataka Park in the Mount which found unrealistic designs and a $2.4 million road upgrade for Greerton Village Road which was predicted to make traffic issues worse in the area once completed.

Incoming chief executive Marty Grenfell set about commissioning reports to identify where issues were occurring and investigate the failed projects.

This turbulence led to an aggressive election with all three, front running candidates calling foul and claiming dirty tactics on each other.

Brownless was gracious in defeat and wished Powell luck in the new job.

'If his connections in central government allows Tauranga to get funding for infrastructure and roads then that will be a good thing,' he said.

'I can understand how people would vote for a change it was one thing after another. We did make the change needed.'

In the Western Bay of Plenty elections, Garry Webber won a close race against Margaret Murray-Benge to claim the mayoralty.

Murray-Benge won her seat on the Kaimai Ward along with Murray Grainger, Don Thwaites and Mark Dean.

The Katikati-Waihi Beach was won by James Denyer, Anne Henry and Christina Humphreys.