“With a lesser level of intervention, namely a Crown Manager and Observer, we believe that the governance of Tauranga City Council can be transformed for the better.” Should a Crown Manager be appointed councillors would retain their positions but can be overruled on certain decisions if required. Councillors Steve Morris, Andrew Hollis, Kelvin Clout, Dawn Kiddie and John Robson previously voted against a motion requesting Mahuta appoint a Crown Manager to the council. Less than a month later, four of those councillors, signed this letter which requests a Crown Manager be appointed. Robson was the only councillor who did not sign.
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta to meet with council collective Smartgrowth
15 Dec, 2020 05:00 PM
2 minutes to read
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta. Photo / File
Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta will virtually join a Smartgrowth leadership group meeting today.
Smartgrowth, a sub-regional partnership of three councils - Tauranga City, Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Regional - tangata whenua and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board formed an urban growth partnership with the Government in August.
The 15-year-old collective also agreed to invite up to three ministers to join the group, with voting rights.
The ministers were to be appointed after the election and were expected to be those with portfolios involving local government, urban development or the like, given Smartgrowth s remit to manage joined-up, long-term growth planning.
All bar one Tauranga councillor signs letter asking local government minister Nanaia Mahuta not to appoint commission
15 Dec, 2020 06:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Councillor John Robson did not sign the letter. Photo / George Novak
Eight of nine Tauranga City Council elected councillors have signed a letter asking the Minister of Local Government not to appoint a commission to replace them. The letter was sent to Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Monday and tabled in a council meeting yesterday afternoon.
It was signed by all elected members except councillor John Robson.
Asked about his reasons for not signing, Robson told the Bay of Plenty Times: Out of professional courtesy to my colleagues, I will comment on why after the minister s decision.
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Fears new visitor information centre for Mount Maunganui will go on the back burner after build canned
10 Dec, 2020 11:00 PM
6 minutes to read
The iconic design option for the visitor information centre featured a statement roof. Image / Supplied
Tourism operators in Mount Maunganui are disappointed but not surprised Tauranga City Council has canned plans for a $5 million visitor information centre in Coronation Park. Operators say a central tourism hub for the Mount will still be needed one day, but one business owner fears it will end up on the back burner for years.
The cash-strapped council cancelled the project, known as Te Tomokanga (The Archway), in a Projects, Services and Operations Committee meeting on Tuesday, after freezing spending in July.