Colin Smith, pictured here with a council staff member, said he was "very disappointed" in the four board members who ousted him. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR
A Southland community board chair has been overthrown from the top job in front of a vocal crowd which turned up to support him.
On Monday evening, more than 100 people packed into Winton Memorial Hall and bore witness to Colin Smith's final moments as the chair of Oreti Community Board.
As his fate was sealed four votes to three, the boisterous crowd let it be known they were not happy with the outcome.
Shouts of "shame on you" could be heard amongst boos at the venue.
When the board had to decide who to replace Smith with shortly after, one person called out "nominate Colin again".
Monday's meeting was held on the back of a 23 July letter to Southland District Council, signed by four members widely known to be at odds with the rest of the board.
More than 100 people packed into Winton Memorial Hall on Monday evening for what turned out to be chair Colin Smith's last day on the job. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR
Katie Allan, Dave Diack, Chris Herud and Tracy Kennedy requested a meeting be held to remove Smith, and on a cold Monday evening, they got their wish.
The board has made headlines for its disfunction this year, and drew criticism for a June decision where it voted against community preference to upgrade Winton's ageing CCTV.
Those in opposition to the project included the four letter-writers, and Karen Maw, whose sudden resignation has recently sparked a by-election.
Monday's meeting began with a public forum in which people threw their support behind Smith.
That included Southland Mayor Rob Scott, who said he'd seen nothing but good leadership from the now-former chair.
"It's not an easy role. It's quite easy to sit in the cheap seats and criticise a chairman. But Colin, from what I've seen, has played with a straight bat the whole way through," Scott said.
"He's always had the community interests at heart."
Southland Mayor Rob Scott backed Smith, saying he always had the community at heart. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR
Councillor Darren Frazer, an appointee to the board, also backed Smith, saying that even on his last day in the job he had turned up early at 4pm to set up chairs and turn heaters on for the meeting.
"I think that actually makes a big statement about his service and his servanthood as a leader.
"Colin, you have my 100 percent support."
Councillor Margie Ruddenklau said removing Smith would not just be losing a chairperson, but also a "true advocate for our community".
Following the vote for removal, Smith thanked the community for showing up.
He was "very disappointed" by the four members, but was humbled by what people had shared across the evening and said he would stay on as a member.
A vote was then taken for a new chair to be appointed, with member Katie Allan beating current deputy Philip Dobson four votes to three.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
