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February 01, 2024
Tolley commissioners get thumbs up from Tauranga iwi
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On February 1, 2024
Download AudioCommissioners put in to manage Tauranga have the thumbs up from tangata whenua.
Then local government minister Nanaia Mahuta sacked elected representatives in 2021 after an independent review found significant governance problems, and replaced them with a four-member commission led by former National Party minister Anne Tolley.
Critics include Tauranga-based ACT MP Cameron Luxton and former mayor Greg Brownless, who have called for commissioners to have only a caretaker role and not make long term decisions.
Council committee member Buddy Mikaere from Ngati Pukenga and Ngati Ranginui says the commissioners have done a great job and have the support of the business community and tangata whenua.
The commissioners have pushed forward with infrastructure initiatives which should have been addressed by the previous council but weren’t.
“The commissioners have taken into account our concerns and our thoughts and what we think should be happening with the development of the city, particularly the civic centre. In time we will see that reflected in Tauranga having some amazing spaces and places where people can work, live and play,” Mr Mikaere says.
He says the criticism is mainly coming from people positioning themselves for an election scheduled for July.
Previous councils have had a poor track record of listening to Maori.
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