President's critics want 'fresh blood'

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule hit back and said Hastings has and will always be his "number one priority". Photo / Paul Taylor

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule has a firm grip on a third term as Local Government NZ (LGNZ) president - despite critics calling for "fresh-blood".

Mr Yule was yesterday given the nod from the group's members who voted to allow their head to serve more than two terms.

The vote came during a series of rule changes voted on by members, representing all of New Zealand's councils at a special general meeting in Wellington.

He said he was happy with the endorsement of "close to three quarters" of the members, essentially, voting for him to remain president.

He said "at this stage" he would seek a third term after his second three-year term ends in the middle of this year.

As LGNZ president he is paid $80,000 a year on top of the $121,950 salary he receives as Hastings mayor.

He added, a number of recent projects with the advocacy group needed to be finished before leaving the organisation in "good stead".

Hastings district councillor Wayne Bradshaw, who ran against Mr Yule in last year's mayoral race, said the vote of the LGNZ members did not come as a surprise.

"Local Government is really important to regions and I would think that someone in a role as important as mayor should give 100 per cent attention to their job.

"We, as ratepayers, are not paying for a part-time mayor, this community deserves a full-time mayor."

Mr Bradshaw said Hastings would never know how many economic and social opportunities had been missed when Mr Yule was "removed" from Hastings.

"Cynthia [Deputy Mayor Bowers] has done a fantastic job in his absence. I consider her and Lawrence assistant mayors, rather than Cynthia being a deputy.

"If he wants to be a politician in Wellington he should stand for Parliament."

Mr Yule hit back and said Hastings has and will always be his "number one priority", believing his role as LGNZ president did not compromise his role as Mayor.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said his opinion - and the view of his council - was that the two-term rule was sufficient.

"The situation is the members have voted for a president to go from serving two terms to three. I think two terms are ideal, and at the end they stand down and fresh blood comes in."

LGNZ provides advocacy and support services for the country's city, district and regional councils.