Tauranga is not getting its council back, with Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta leaving commissioners in place for at least another two years.
Tauranga (file image). Photo: Tauranga City Council
The dysfunctional council was sacked in December 2020, and commissioners were installed to run the fifth biggest city in the country.
But the government has decided the job was still not done, with Mahuta announcing Tauranga City Council would be governed by commissioners until July 2024.
It was an extra 21 months longer than originally planned, with the four current commissioners expected to end their term in October this year, prompting a local body election.
Mahuta said the decision was a reflection on the substantial infrastructure challenges that remained in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region.
On the streets of Tauranga, many agreed.
"No damage is being done, I think more positives are happening than negatives and I think the city of Tauranga needs all the help it can get," one resident said.
Another said "They've [the commissioners] made certain moves and I think they should see the completion of those".
Commissioners have run the city since the beginning of 2021 when council infighting had boiled over, stopping key decisions being made.
In stepped four commissioners, chaired by former National Party minister Anne Tolley.
Their job was to get the city back on track.
A job Mahuta said was not quite done.
While the rest of the country will vote in local elections later this year, Tauranga residents will see commissioners take the reins again.
Mahuta said it was important Tauranga did return to locally elected democracy, but it was a finely balanced thing.
"The challenge for me was to weigh up, what has been a very difficult and disparate voice around the governance table at Tauranga City Council and what I want to do is try and settle that down," she said.
"Having a commission beyond October will ensure that the council have the stability needed to maintain its current pace. They will be able to deliver on several complex programmes of work, including plans for the new civic centre precinct and investment plans for future growth."
There were substantial infrastructure challenges that remain in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty region.
Back on the streets, some locals said they did not really know what the commissioners did, but they were pleased to see the back of the dysfunction that plagued the city.
"It makes sense to have those people stay in there for the extended period of time. Because there is the risk that the former elected people get in and start fighting with each other, leaving the cities' best interest not being attended to," one person said.
Another local said he would like to see more "water under the bridge" before the commissioners said their goodbyes.
"I don't think enough time has passed to be sure that we've overcome the potential of infighting by people have have previously sat on the council."
However, Tauranga resident Sheena Jones did not believe the commissioners were ever needed, and was not happy knowing they were now staying longer.
"Protesting hasn't seemed to have done anything so far, and I certainly don't want these commissioners back. It's like the power has been taken out of the ratepayers' hand."
Former mayor Gregg Brownless lost the 2019 election.
While the city accepted the government needed to act initially, residents had now had their right to democracy taken away, he said.
"We've moved in a very bad direction.
"The issue is it's up to the people to decide whether they [the commissioners] are doing a good job or not and it's up to the people to appoint their own representatives in any form of democracy."
In response, Mahuta said she recognised the importance for Tauranga to return to locally elected democracy but the decision was based on balance.
"The real challenge for democracy is to ensure confidence that decisions can be made. That is the big challenge all the way around for council's across the country.
"The fact that we had to appoint commissioners because that was not the situation here in Tauranga is a salient lesson."
The current commission would end its term in October and she would consider candidates for the next term.
