Mayor of Tauranga explained

Post:Mayor
Body:Tauranga
Flag:File:Tauranga City Council coat of arms.png
Flagcaption:Coat of arms of Tauranga
Incumbentsince:2024
Deputy:Jen Scoular[1]
Style:His/Her Worship
Termlength:3 years, renewable
Formation:1882
First:George Vesey Stewart
Seat:Tauranga
Website:Official website
Salary:$172,918[2]

The mayor of Tauranga is the head of local government in Tauranga, New Zealand's fifth-largest city. The mayor presides over the Tauranga City Council. The mayor is directly elected using the single transferable vote method. The current mayor is Mahé Drysdale, elected in the 2024 Tauranga local elections.

History

Tauranga was gazetted as a borough in 1882, and achieved sufficient population to become a city in 1963. The 1989 Local Body reforms saw the city become part of the Tauranga District, before the City of Tauranga was reproclaimed in 2004.

Elections for mayor were held annually from 1882 up to 1915, when terms become two years. In 1935 terms were made three years, the current system. The election used first-past-the-post voting up until the 2016 election,[3] then changed to single transferable vote.[4]

One of Tauranga's longest-serving mayors was Canon Charles Jordan, who was mayor for nine years in total over five separate periods. He is the subject of a commemorative statue, unveiled in Tauranga Domain in 1916, four years after his death.[5]

Tenby Powell was elected to the mayoralty in October 2019 but resigned in November 2020,[6] eight months after he was unanimously censured by his council for an angry outburst.[7] [8] Following further mayoral "outbursts,"[9] [10] Powell publicly called for the Minister of Local Government to appoint a commission to replace the "dysfunctional" council.[11] [12] The decision to cancel the election for a new mayor and councillors, and the appointment of a Crown commission instead by minister Nanaia Mahuta on 9 February 2021 was not without controversy. A legal opinion by law firm Russell McVeagh found her decision may have been "unlawful"[13] and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges called the decision "dramatic and draconian",[14] while saying that Powell quitting removed "a significant source of friction" and it was reasonable to assume the council would become more functional with the election of a new Mayor and Councillor.[15]

The council and mayor were restored following elections in 2024. Mahé Drysdale was elected as mayor.

List of mayors

Mayor! Term
1George Vesey Stewart1882[16]
2Richard Coles Jordan1882–1883
3Thomas Wrigley1883–1885[17]
4Charles Jordan1885–1886[18]
5David Lundon1886–1888[19]
6James Bodell1888–1889[20] [21]
7Robert Sharpe Galbraith1889–1890[22] [23]
(5)David Lundon1890–1893[24] [25]
8Richard John Gill1893[26]
9Charles Angus Clarke1893–1898[27] [28] [29] [30]
10Gerard Arnold Ward1898–1899[31]
11James Weir Gray1899–1900[32]
(4)Charles Jordan1900–1905[33]
12William McKenzie Commons1906–1907[34]
(4)Charles Jordan1907–1908[35]
13John Bull1908–1909[36] [37]
(4)Charles Jordan1909–1910
(13)John Bull1910–1911[38]
(4)Charles Jordan1911–1912
14Benjamin Robbins1912–1915[39] [40]
15Charles Macmillan1915–1917[41]
16John Cuthbert Adams1917–1919[42]
17Bradshaw Dive1919–1929[43]
(14)Benjamin Robbins1929–1933
18Alfred Francis Daly Tunks1933–1935
19Lionel Wilkinson1935–1950
20Bill Barnard1950–1952[44]
(19)Lionel Wilkinson1952–1956
21David Mitchell1956–1963
Mayor!Term
(21)David Mitchell1963–1968
22Bob Owens1968–1977[45]
23Eric Faulkner1977–1980
24Raymond Francis Dillon1980–1983
25Noel Pope1983–1989
Mayor!Term
26Keith "Nobby" Clarke1989–1995
(25)Noel Pope1995–2001[46]
27Jan Beange2001–2003[47]
Mayor!Term
(27)Jan Beange2003–2004
28Stuart Crosby2004–2016
29Greg Brownless2016–2019[48]
30Tenby Powell2019–2020[49]
Replaced by Crown commission2020–2024
31Mahé Drysdale2024–

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale honours grandfather as he’s sworn in . Stuff.co.nz . 3 August 2024 . 3 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Edmunds . Susan . 13 June 2024 . How much your local council gets paid . 28 June 2024 . Radio New Zealand.
  3. Web site: 2007 Local Elections . Elections New Zealand . 2008-12-11 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081120150302/http://www.elections.org.nz/rules/local-elections/local-elections-2007.html . 20 November 2008 .
  4. Web site: Voting – Tauranga City Council. 2020-08-04. www.tauranga.govt.nz.
  5. Web site: Tauranga Domain. dead. https://archive.today/20120910050530/http://www.library.tauranga.govt.nz/local-history/historic-places/tauranga-domain.aspx. 10 September 2012. 22 May 2012. Tauranga City Libraries. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: 2020-11-20 . Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell resigns . 2021-04-17 . Rnz.co.nz . en-nz.
  7. News: 'I made a mistake': Tauranga mayor told to apologise for 'outburst'. The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2022.
  8. Web site: SunLive – Mayor to apologise for "bullying comments" – The Bay's News First. Sunlive.co.nz. 16 January 2022.
  9. News: Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell in informal meeting. The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2022.
  10. Web site: Tauranga mayor's profanity-laced flip-flop over quitting. 3 August 2020. Stuff.co.nz. 16 January 2022.
  11. News: Shand . Matt . 20 November 2020 . Tauranga mayor resigns, calls for commissioner to be appointed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201120074735/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300163045/minister-seeks-advice-on-commissioner-as-tauranga-mayor-resigns . 20 November 2020 . . Stuff.
  12. News: Tauranga mayor's shock resignation: Tenby Powell calls for Government to step in . 20 November 2020 . . . 20 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201120075136/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tauranga-mayors-shock-resignation-tenby-powell-calls-for-government-to-step-in/BSTZXCJDPYMRYL27CUSQ6RX26Q/. 20 November 2020. live.
  13. Web site: SunLive – Commissioners appointment labelled "unlawful" – The Bay's News First. Sunlive.co.nz. 16 January 2022.
  14. News: . 11 July 2022 . 25 November 2020 . Samantha . Motion. 'Draconian': Simon Bridges urges minister not to intervene in council .
  15. Web site: 'Draconian': Simon Bridges urges minister not to intervene in council .
  16. Web site: Rorke . Jinty . 22 June 2007 . Stewart, George Vesey 1832? – 1920 . 2008-12-17 . Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  17. Web site: 27 November 1884 . MAYORAL ELECTIONS . 2008-12-18 . Hawera & Normanby Star . Volume V, Issue 964, Page 2.
  18. Web site: 23 December 1887 . Borough Council Installation Of Mayor . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XV, Issue 2225, Page 2.
  19. Web site: 2 December 1887 . Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XV, Issue 2219, Page 3.
  20. Web site: Sinclair . Keith . 22 June 2007 . Bodell, James 1831? – 1892 . 2008-12-17 . Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  21. Web site: 21 November 1888 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XV, Issue 2361, Page 3.
  22. Web site: 28 November 1889 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XVI, Issue 2472, Page 3.
  23. Web site: 20 March 1890 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . 3.
  24. Web site: 17 November 1890 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XVII, Issue 2583, Page 3.
  25. Web site: 16 November 1891 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XX, Issue 2755, Page 3.
  26. Web site: 21 November 1892 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXI, Issue 2907, Page 5.
  27. Web site: 20 November 1893 . Page 5 Advertisements Column 1 . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXII, Issue 3050, Page 5.
  28. Web site: 30 November 1894 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXII, Issue 3201, Page 5.
  29. Web site: 18 November 1895 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Page 5.
  30. Web site: 15 November 1897 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXIV, Issue 3624, Page 5.
  31. Web site: 2 December 1898 . Borough of Tauranga Mayoral Election . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXIV, Issue 3782, Page 3.
  32. Web site: 1 December 1899 . Borough of Tauranga Election of Mayor . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXIV, Issue 3932, Page 2.
  33. Web site: 29 April 1904 . Borough of Tauranga Election of Mayor . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXXI, Issue 4592, Page 3.
  34. Web site: 27 June 1906 . Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXXIV, Issue 4917, Page 3.
  35. Web site: 19 April 1907 . Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXXV, Issue 5041, Page 3.
  36. Web site: 30 April 1908 . The Palmerston North Contest . 2008-12-18 . Wanganui Herald . Volume XXXXII, Issue 12452, Page 5.
  37. Web site: 7 May 1909 . BOROUGH COUNCIL . 2008-12-18 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXXVII, Issue 5333, Page 2.
  38. Web site: 22 April 1910 . Election of Mayor . 2008-12-19 . Bay Of Plenty Times . Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5499, Page 3.
  39. Web site: RESULTS ELSEWHERE . 2008-12-18 . Evening Post . Volume LXXXVII, Issue 101, 30 April 1914, Page 3.
  40. Web site: Robbins Park . 2008-12-18 . Tauranga City Council.
  41. News: 29 April 1915 . Further Results In Other Places . 19 December 2008 . . 8 . lxxxix . 100.
  42. News: 26 April 1917 . The Tauranga Elections . 8 December 2014 . Thames Star . 4 . LVIII . 18325.
  43. Web site: Forgotten area of Tauranga is remembered . 2008-12-19 . Nztauranga.evosuite.co.nz.
  44. Web site: Atkinson . Neill . 22 June 2007 . Barnard, William Edward 1886 – 1958 . 2008-12-17 . Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  45. Web site: Sir Robert Owens . 2008-12-19 . Owens.co.nz.
  46. News: Macbrayne . Rosaleen . 14 October 2001 . Surprised BOP winner delighted . 2008-12-17 . The New Zealand Herald.
  47. Web site: 9 October 2004 . Winners and losers around the country . 2008-12-17 . Tvnz.co.nz.
  48. News: 8 October 2016 . ELECTION: New Tauranga mayor announced . 20 November 2016 . Bay of Plenty Times.
  49. Web site: 2019-10-12 . Tenby Powell wins Tauranga Mayoralty – The Bay's News First . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129152142/https://sunlive.co.nz/news/223504-tenby-powell-wins-tauranga-mayoralty.html . 2020-01-29 . 2019-10-12 . SunLive . en.