Kaipara residents plea for commissioners to stay

Chairman of commissioners John Robertson

Some residents want the government-appointed commissioners running the Kaipara District Council to stay.

More than 1300 of the 14,000 Kaipara residents have signed a petition in which they called on the Associate Minister for Local Government to extend the commissioners' term for a further 12 months.

Chairman of commissioners John Robertson, along with Richard Booth and Peter Winder, were appointed as commissioners in September 2012 for three years by the then Minister for Local Government John Carter to help the district resolve its $80 million debt and "serious" governance issues.

The first petition asking for the commissioners to stay, organised by Mangawhai resident and former KDC Deputy Mayor Richard Bull, was sent to Associate Minister for Local Government Louise Upston in December. It was signed by 55 Kaipara residents. A second petition signed by more than 1300 residents was submitted on March 3.

KDC elections are scheduled for October this year but those who signed the petition argued for an extension that would bring the polls into line with local government elections to be held in October next year. Mr Bull said it would be difficult for the new councillors if elected in October this year to come to grips with a multitude of issues.

"The commissioners are still battling through courts dealing with claims and counter-claims. There's also the new boundaries and amalgamations being proposed that are still under consideration so a 12-month extension will give them a better view of what's happening."

Mangawhai Ratepayers and Residents Association has sent a petition with 300 signatures to Ms Upston's office opposing retention of the commissioners. Chairman Bruce Rogan said: "We're being taxed without representation, which is a terrible crime against democracy."

Ms Upston said she could not give a timeframe on when a decision would be made on whether to extend the commissioners' terms. Mr Robertson said any decision on an extension was the minister's call.