The future leadership of Tauranga City Council is likely to be decided today.
Tauranga City Council offices Photo: Google Maps
Four commissioners were appointed to lead councilhttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/435577/commissioners-for-tauranga-city-council-to-be-announced-this-week in February last year, after the elected council was sacked in December 2020.
A decision on whether residents will be able to elect councillors in October's local body elections, or the term of commissioners will be extended, is now in the hands of Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta.
Popularity has grown for the commissioners among the business district in their one-year term after a dysfunctional council saw them appointed by the government.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said the most common view held in his network was for the commissioners to stay on.
"By far the most common view is to avoid going back to what we had.
"Not everyone, but the most popular decision is to have the commissioners stay on for at least another year. That gives us space to rethink and attract the right governors to the council; people with the right skill set."
Cowley said Tauranga City was in the midst of a crisis, particularly in housing and transport.
He said the business community failed to see how the previous council would address those issues.
"Carrying on provides that continuity just to address those crises we are facing at the moment, particularly for housing."
However, not everyone feels the same way.
Resident Sheena Jones has been against the commissioners from the beginning and protested outside council when the decision was announced.
Jones said the power has been taken out of the ratepayers hands.
"I want to get back to democracy. We had this forced on us by the government, by [Nanaia] Mahuta.
"I think I speak for a lot of people around here, that we want to get back to democratic voting for our own council."
The sentiment is shared by former mayor Gregg Brownless, who was not appointed in the 2019 election.
"Whether they are good or bad is not the point, the point is democracy.
"The only time it's led to outright dysfunction and bitter interactions has been this particular term. The people of Tauranga have got it right, arguably, for the other terms and they should be given the opportunity again."
The commission, chaired by Anne Tolley, was given the power to act in councillors place until the local body elections scheduled for October.
Tolley confirmed, in a representation review hearing held by the Local Government Commission earlier this week, that she had recommended local body elections be delayed a year to Mahuta.
Te Tuinga Whānau Trust lead Tommy Wilson helps the city's most needy and said he was supportive of the idea.
"Since the commissioners have been here we have had three meetings with them face to face.
"And all that tells me, I don't care what political pōtae you wear, I do care about who has a heart for those who need to be looked after most and to me that's the commissioners."
Nanaia Mahuta is expected to be in Tauranga later this morning.
