Who Stole the 2022 Local Democracy Elections from the citizens of Tauranga?

The Cancellation of the 2022 Tauranga City Council Election

•The four Tauranga City Council Commissioners were appointed on 5 February 2021 to govern Tauranga from 9 February 2021 until local government elections in October 2022 (Gazette Notice).

•The Tauranga City Council elections scheduled for 8 October 2022 were cancelled and the four Commissioners were reappointed on 21 April 2022 to govern Tauranga from 22 April 2022 until elections in July 2024 (Gazette Notice).

•The cancellation of the 2022 Tauranga City Council elections was done without prior notice to the citizens of Tauranga (except for a small select elite) and without consultation with the citizens of Tauranga.

•Our right to vote was cancelled but we still have to pay for projects the Commissioners and their supporters want. Pay but no say.

Why Was the 2022 Tauranga City Council Election Cancelled?

1.The following are the reasons given for the cancellation of the Tauranga City Council election in 2022 and the reappointment of the Commissioners to govern Tauranga.

•“18. The Commission has analysed its achievements and believes there is real risk that the work programme may be undermined by the return of elected councillors, who have historically tended to support conservative rate increases leading to an inability to fund new growth.

•19. In particular, the Commission believes that under a return to elected democracy, a change in strategic direction may jeopardise relationships the Commission has established with public and private funding contributors. This would result in an inability to deliver on planned projects both within Tauranga city and across the wider region.

•20. The Department also notes that further intervention through the retention of a Commission is strongly supported by local iwi and business leaders within the Tauranga region. The Department is aware of a number of Ministerials from members of the Tauranga community noting their support for the decision to appoint Commissioners and requesting that a Commission is retained at the Council beyond October 2022. Anecdotally, the Department has also received positive feedback from other individuals such as Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff and private individuals in the Tauranga community.”

•(the Briefing for Hon Nania Mahuta Exit Plan 11 February 2022 Paras 18 to 20).

1.Kieran McAnulty said in May 2023 that “the decision to appoint the commission until July 2024 was made following careful consideration of the commission’s exit plan, feedback from business and community leaders….” (Sunlive 11 May 2023).

Who are these people Who Supported the Commissioners to Cancel the 2022 Election?

•Te Tari Taiwhenua/Department of Internal Affairs advised GM in a letter dated 19 July 2022 that the following organisations and people supported the extension of the Commissioners terms

•Urban Task Force For Tauranga.  Chairman Scott Adams (son of Paul Adams)

•Property Council of New Zealand.     Tauranga Committee Member Scott Adams

•Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore Trust.

•15 unnamed individuals.

•I have asked the Ombudsman to review the Department of Internal Affairs decision not to release to me the names of the 15 individuals. See below for Ombudsman’s reply

•I believe the citizens who have had their right to vote in the 2022 TCC election cancelled have the right to know who all the participants in this decision were.

We challenge the 15 unnamed people referred to by Minister Mahuta to out themselves. and be accountable to the citizens of Tauranga.

Unanswered Questions

•Who came up with the idea to cancel the 2022 Tauranga City Council elections and extend/renew the Commissioners terms?

•Do any of the named organisations and unnamed individuals have a financial interest in the central city in Tauranga?

•How did 3 organisations and 15 unnamed individuals support the Commissioners application to the Government to cancel the 2022 election when the rest of the community did not know about this?

Letter to the Ombudsman

From: Garth Mathieson
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2023 4:10 PM
To: Helen Copsey <Helen.Copsey@ombudsman.parliament.nz>
Subject: RE: Ombudsman ref 600749
Importance: High 

Helen, 

The following might help you with your work. This is from the Briefing for Hon Nania Mahuta Exit Plan 11 February 2022 Paras 18 to 20 

“18. The Commission has analysed its achievements and believes there is real risk that the work programme may be undermined by the return of elected councillors, who have historically tended to support conservative rate increases leading to an inability to fund new growth.

19. In particular, the Commission believes that under a return to elected democracy, a change in strategic direction may jeopardise relationships the Commission has established with public and private funding contributors. This would result in an inability to deliver on planned projects both within Tauranga city and across the wider region.

20. The Department also notes that further intervention through the retention of a Commission is strongly supported by local iwi and business leaders within the Tauranga region. The Department is aware of a number of Ministerials from members of the Tauranga community noting their support for the decision to appoint Commissioners and requesting that a Commission is retained at the Council beyond October 2022. Anecdotally, the Department has also received positive feedback from other individuals such as Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff and private individuals in the Tauranga community.” 

Kieran McAnulty said in May 2023 that “the decision to appoint the commission until July 2024 was made following careful consideration of the commission’s exit plan, feedback from business and community leaders….” (Sunlive 11 May 2023) 

Who are these business leaders, financiers, community leaders and other individuals etc who participated in the cancellation of an election?  I note the list does not include ratepayers.  The people of Tauranga have a right to know who the people are who cancelled their right to vote because they have to pay for other people’s projects and developments even though they have no say.  A Tauranga Ratepayers Alliance/Curia poll released in May 2023 says that 67% of Tauranga residents want the Commissioners fired and an election for Mayor and Council held this year.  In the same poll 59% are against the boutique stadium project, only 24% approve of it.  We are supported by tens of thousands of people. 

Yours faithfully

Garth Mathieson

Representative of the Alliance Against the Tauranga City Council Active Reserve Masterplans

Trustee of the Tauranga Millennium Track Trust

Click to read the reply from the Ombudsman.   

This reply is worth reading to show the incompetence of a government department in record keeping and making decisions without full consultation with the affected people.

We challenge the 15 unnamed people referred to by Minister Mahuta to out themselves. and be accountable to the citizens.

OIA Information