Horowhenua mayor shut down after seeking power to appoint his own deputy

Horowhenua District Councillors rejected a motion by Mayor Michael Feyen regarding the appointment of a deputy mayor.

Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen's continued quest for the power to appoint his own deputy struck a major stumbling block at a Horowhenua District Council meeting this week.

Mayor Feyen brought a last minute notice of motion to the meeting asking for a law change request to Local Government New Zealand that would allow mayors to appoint their own deputy mayors.

Feyen said LGNZ had indicted their support for a remit to the law and wanted to proceed with discussions.

Horowhenua Councillor Barry Judd

Councillor Barry Judd was particularly vocal and asked that Feyen withdraw the notice of motion.

"You have been given advice from officers but you insist on pursuing this notice of motion," he said.

"If you think you have the right to defy standing orders why are we sitting around this table? If you continue with this we might as well all stand up and leave."

Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen.

After a heated discussion Feyen was forced to withdraw notice of motion for a change in the way deputy mayors were appointed when it was voted out by the majority of councillors.

Feyen had long advocated for mayors to have the power to appoint their own deputies.