Councillors want to keep historic chairs

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE old chairs from Gisborne District Council’s chambers might have earned a reprieve.

Councillors have not accepted a staff recommendation to sell the chairs and have instead decided to ‘‘utilise old furniture where practical and dispose of the rest’’.

The 19 or 20 chairs and other old furniture are not planned to be used in the new premises and are in storage. The recommendation was that the chairs be sold for $200 to current or past councillors with the remainder offered for sale on Trade Me.

Andy Cranston said he would like the chairs retained.

“They are our history, our taonga,’’ he said.

The chairs represented culture, democracy, “our history” and reflected a certain pomp and circumstance. Mr Cranston said the chairs could be incorporated into the new building. He offered to store the furniture until then.

Roger Haisman said the chairs could be used in the public gallery. The chairs represented council’s history and culture.

“Let’s not throw everything out.”

Chief executive Judy Campbell said the chairs were re-covered in the 1970s and could be used in the new council building.

Alan Davidson said the issue was an operational matter. Mrs Campbell agreed, but said it was also a sensitive and sentimental matter.

Any unsold chairs would be offered for sale in the same manner as vehicles disposed of by Gisborne District Council — on Trade Me, which was a method of sale where a market price would prevail.

Mrs Campbell said she would have to check to make sure the chairs had not already been handed over to Gisborne Holdings Ltd ownership.