Shadbolt unable to sack deputy

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt.

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has lost his bid to sack Deputy Mayor Neil Boniface following a highly charged, and at times nasty, special council meeting in the city today.

The meeting that was supposed to determine whether or not councillors had confidence in the deputy quickly turned into personal muck-racking in front of a vocal and packed public gallery.

And it was the mayor's ability to retain his position that was called into question.

Councillor Norman Elder urged Mr Shadbolt not to go ahead with the debate warning him: "If it is lost it raises issues about the confidence and competency of our mayor."

But a visibly upset Mr Shadbolt would not back down, saying he wanted to know the truth from Mr Boniface.

The pair has been embroiled in an ongoing public spat which first surfaced at a council meeting last month when the mayor attempted to replace his deputy.

Mr Boniface had already agreed privately to step down from the role after Mr Shadbolt said he had lost confidence in him.

Another councillor, Geoff Piercy, had agreed to fill the position until the elections next year but, when the time came to formalise the arrangement, Mr Piercy reneged on the deal, saying he no longer wanted the job.

That left Mr Shadbolt furious and still determined to get rid of Mr Boniface.

Central to his unhappiness with the deputy mayor were two concerns: that Mr Boniface did not advise the mayor about a drink-driving accident council chief executive Richard King had caused, following drinks during work time; and that Mr Boniface had not sent Mr Shadbolt a copy of Mr King's contract which he had signed as part of his duties as deputy mayor.

Mr Shadbolt told the meeting today he had found Mr Boniface's explanations to date "confusing and contradictory".

"It's the real problem we face. Your story keeps changing. Every time you tell us a story it becomes a different (one)."

But Mr Boniface said the mayor's arguments were petty and inconsequential. He said he had never copied any council document because it wasn't his role to do so and that he hadn't contacted the mayor about Mr King's accident because it hadn't crossed his mind.

Mr Elder supported the deputy mayor saying it was Mr King's obligation to inform Mr Shadbolt of the accident.

Councillor Thelma Buck told the mayor she'd had a "gutsful" of the whole saga. "It's a dog's breakfast. It's a real sad state of affairs. I think you should stand up, shake the man's hand and get on with it."

Councillor Wayne Harpur said there was no council leadership and the relationship between Mr Shadbolt and Mr Boniface was dysfunctional.

He argued if Mr Boniface continued in the role the dysfunction would continue. "This is a shambles. We're making a complete arse of ourselves."

But in the end a majority of councillors voted against the mayor's motion.

Mr Shadbolt said he accepted that democratic decision. "I had a grievance, it's been well aired. That's the end."

- NZPA