The rest of the country will have its local body elections next year, but a long-running saga means Tauranga is electing its officials over the next few weeks.
The region last voted for a mayor and councillors in 2019, but that council was discharged of its duties by the government the following year.
Why did the government step in?
The council elected in 2019 was plagued by internal conflicts.
A damning report by a review and observer team in 2020 noted there was a “strong impression” that the mayoralty contest had continued beyond the election.
The report also said the council had racked up three code of conduct complaints in a short amount of time, which was “most unusual”.
“If as much effort was devoted to actual governance responsibilities and finding ways to work together as has been given to what has been described to the Team as point scoring, code of conduct complaints and the re-litigation of issues through both social and print media, the council would be making far better progress,” the report said.
The city’s mayor, Tenby Powell, resigned from the role in November 2020. He told the council he had asked then-Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta to consider the appointment of commissioners to govern in Tauranga.
A four-person commission, led by former National minister Anne Tolley, was then appointed to step in for the Tauranga City Council from February 2021. It was just the fourth time in 30 years that a democratically-elected council was dumped and replaced with a commission.
In 2022, Mahuta extended the commission’s tenure until July 2024.
Tauranga is about to vote for a new council – more specifically, eight councillors from general wards, one councillor from the Māori ward, and a new mayor.
Voting papers are due to be delivered from June 29. Voting closes at midday on Saturday, July 20 with preliminary results released later that afternoon.
There are nearly 90 candidates standing in these elections, including 15 people running for mayor.
Notable mayoral candidates include Olympic gold medallist Mahé Drysdale, singer Ria Hall, former mayor Greg Brownless, former deputy mayor Tina Salisbury, and long-time rugby mascot Hori BOP (whose campaign is very much focused on a new stadium for the area).
Tolley was appointed as a commissioner for the dysfunctional council in 2021. (Source: 1News)
Commission Chair Anne Tolley told Q+A’s Jack Tame “some fantastic candidates” had put their names forward for the new council.
She had less praise for former councillors and candidates who were standing for council again.
“Look, good on those old guys for putting their hands up again, you know. I wouldn't vote for them. Why would you vote for them second time around?” she said.
“But you know, they're having a go, and I always admire anyone that puts themselves out [there].”
Does this mean Tauranga will be voting again next year?
Local elections are due to be held around the rest of the country in 2025, but Tauranga won’t be involved in those.
The new council elected this year will instead enjoy an unprecedented four-year term, with the next vote taking place at the 2028 local elections.
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