We say …

If the behaviour at last week’s Waikato Regional Council meeting is an indication of what’s ahead for the organisation charged with looking after our land, air, water, public transport and biosecurity, let’s bring in a commissioner now.

Pamela Storey

It took councillors more than eight hours to decide who to put on their various committees and they’ve yet to decide on chairs and deputy chairs because of a split.

Seven councillors support chair Pamela Storey and seven support Waipā King Country constituency member Stu Kneebone.

Nastiness and petty politics were the order of the day and mirrors the tumultuous nature of the council’s previous term. The split threatens to rear its head continually and prevent the council doing what ratepayers expect and deserve.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta must be asking her officials to keep an eye on the council with a view to doing what she so speedily did in Tauranga – call in a commissioner.

Stu Kneebone

Tauranga City Council’s four commissioners  were appointed in November 2020 – and sources say the city has never had it so good with warring councillors out of the picture.

But Mahuta’s sister Tipa, a Kneebone supporter, is a member of the council – so the monitoring may be handed to her associate minister Kieran McAnulty.

The Waipā King Country electorate is also divided –  Clyde Graf is in the Pamela Storey camp with Chris Hughes, Mich’eal Downard, Warren Maher, Robert Cookson and Ben Dunbar-Smith.

His fellow ward councillor Stu Kneebone is in a camp with deputy chair Bruce Clarkson, Kataraina Hodge, Angela Strange, Mahuta, Jennifer Nickel and Noel Smith.

They clearly do not like each other and if you do not want to take our word for it, buy yourself some popcorn, pour yourself a drink and tune into the council’s You Tube council to watch the meeting.

Putting aside the appalling camera position and shocking sound, some might call it entertainment. We think it’s a disaster movie.

More Recent News

News in brief

Minor delays expected Drivers will experience lane closures next week for surfacing repairs around the new roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29 in Piarere. On Monday the SH1 northbound (Hamilton exit)…

Pair bridged the gap

She’s a straight-talking Cambridge farmer and agribusiness consultant with a sharp wit and a love of a good post-game wine. He’s a seasoned grand master from Te Aroha who’s been playing bridge since 1970. Today,…

Lights on at Te Awa

The third edition of Te Awa River Ride’s Light Night will take place next month, as artists continue to add new sculptures along the popular trail. Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust trail manager Sarah…

Licence renewal stalled

The owner of a Cambridge restaurant has been given a month to make significant changes to its ownership structure before Waipā District Council Licensing Committee will consider renewing its on-licence. Jaspal Grewal, co-owner of Koi…