Claims mayoral candidate breached code of conduct by saying Napier Council has ignored core infrastructure projects

Napier City Council Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan says misrepresentation from elected members is a breach of the council’s code of conduct.

Napier Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan claims a councillor running for mayor has breached the council’s code of conduct by saying the city has ignored core infrastructure projects in favour of a “nice-to-have” one.

“Public trust depends on us being honest, not just popular,” Brosnan said in a speech to councillors during a recent meeting.

In what is known as a “minor matter” – a chance for councillors to say what’s on their minds – she raised the subject of the “integrity of public statements being made by elected members, particularly those members announcing candidacy”.

As part of her speech, Brosnan touched on statements by councillor Richard McGrath in announcing his mayoral candidacy.

Mayoral candidate Richard McGrath says the public can decide if Brosnan's speech was appropriate at a council meeting.

McGrath’s announcement said Napier City Council had “ignored its core infrastructure for too long”, putting “nice-to-have projects” ahead of its needs.

“How did the new library get promoted ahead of the new hill reservoirs, or more water bores?” he wrote.

The hill reservoir is a new drinking water supply on Napier Hill. Napier City Council bought 3ha on Napier’s old hospital site for $11.35 million for the new reservoir in 2020.

Brosnan said the council had spent $110 million on three waters in the past three years and the Napier Hill reservoir project was funded and on track to its long-term plan timeline, as were other core projects such as an outfall replacement, a wastewater treatment plant replacement, water bore drillings, tidal gates and other network improvements.

A new water bore was opened by NCC in Awatoto in 2022, as well as a backup bore in Taradale.

She said disagreement was expected and healthy debate necessary in an election year, but “inaccurate misrepresentation from elected members who hold a privileged position in the community is a breach of our code of conduct”.

“We have all signed the elected members’ code of conduct and clause 7 of that code reads members must ensure that their communications with the public, including social media, are accurate, fair and not misleading.

“As you know, having a leadership position, I take my responsibility under section 5 of the code to uphold that code of conduct and to hold other members accountable for their behaviour seriously.

“So respectfully, I will not be shy about calling out behaviour that does not meet the bar you have subscribed to.”

McGrath said the community could draw their conclusions about who was in the right.

“They can decide if it was appropriate at a council meeting,” he said of Brosnan raising the issue.

Brosnan cited five claims in total, all of which she said were inaccurate.

At least one was made by another mayoral candidate, Nigel Simpson.

Mayoral candidate Nigel Simpson says it's up to the voting public to decide who they will listen to.

Simpson said in a press release the “Ahuriri Regional Park is an unbudgeted $20m-plus spend” and that instead of pumping stormwater inefficiently, “we should redirect flows from areas like Jervoistown and Meeanee toward the underutilised cross-country drain; a smarter solution that protects the estuary, supports growth, and unlocks Lagoon Farm for future housing”.

Brosnan said this was inaccurate.

“Council’s three-year plan budgets $13.2m for the park in years 2028 to 2031, with funding shared with HBRC and further work for consent related to stormwater diversion from 2024 to 2029. The park is fully funded, budgeted and publicly scrutinised.”

She said Simpson’s claims about Jervoistown and Meeanee were misleading.

“The cross-country drain is already linked to the stormwater from these areas and is utilised effectively in high-flow events.”

Simpson said the election cycle was a time when people made all sorts of statements.

“It’s up to the voting public to decide who they will listen to,” Simpson said.

Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said Brosnan’s comments were a timely reminder about the responsibilities councillors carry under the Elected Members’ Code of Conduct.

“I don’t view her remarks as accusations against individuals, but as a principled call to uphold the standards we’ve all agreed to – especially around public communications,“ Wise said.

Wise claimed the examples cited were, on review, based on public claims that are “either demonstrably inaccurate or misleading”.

Brosnan said the council should fully support vibrant campaigns and robust debate.

“It is possible to run an honest campaign without burning down the house you want to live in and the people you want to live in it with.

“That’s our staff.”

- This story has been updated to include the context of the core infrastructure projects being referred to by McGrath and Brosnan - the Hill Rd reservoir and water bores.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.