Tauranga City Council on DIA radar after name-calling over deputy mayor position

Wednesday, 19 August 2020

An emergency meeting has been called for Tauranga City Council regarding the strained relationships in the wake of “recent negative media and social media commentary”.

Chief executive Marty Grenfell said the meeting is in response to a request from the Department of Internal Affairs that council provides assurances it is taking proactive steps to restore trust and meet the Crown’s expectations of councils.

The meeting follows a wave of media coverage as in-fighting and name-calling became public during a coup over the deputy mayor position.

Mayor Tenby Powell called one of his councillors a “softc**k” while others labelled him as arrogant and a narcissist.

* Tauranga Mayor Tenby Powell says city insolvent ahead of rates rise

* Council spent $19 million on failed Tauranga car park complex

“DIA has sought information so that it can advise the Minister of Local Government on action she may need to take pursuant to part 10 of the Local Government Act,” Grenfell said.

“The Minister has the power to assist or intervene in such situations.”

Grenfell said they aim to appoint a Review and Observer Team to monitor interactions and council performance and report their findings to the council and DIA.

”The council can establish a path forward which can promote more constructive working relationships between councillors and between the mayor and councillors,” he said.

Grenfell said the elected member relationship issues are mainly manifested in forums outside of the Council chambers, and that the Council’s formal decision-making processes had not been significantly impacted.

“We have strong leadership capability within the organisation and staff are continuing to get on with the job of running the city, planning for its future and dealing with the pressures created by COVID-19 and our rapid growth,” he said.