Bennett blames minute-taker

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Paula Bennett is dismissing criticisms that she treated the country's mayors with disrespect during a tense meeting, blaming the inaccuracy of the minute-taker.

But mayors who were present, including Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, have confirmed the ill-feeling from the March 10 meeting, even though they describe the overall relationship with the minister as warm and constructive.

Ms Bennett, the Social Development Minister, had met the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs, which consists of a number of the country's civic leaders and represents all but three of the country's mayors.

The atmosphere turned tense after the minister told the group the Government had slowed down the work on the taskforce's programme Youth Transitions.

While the Government would support it for another year, it could not commit itself beyond that because of other priorities and budget constraints.

Mayor Jenny Rowan asked Ms Bennett where that left the relationship between the Governmentand the taskforce. "The minister challenged the mayors as what they brought to the table and what she obtained for the grant provided, adding that the taskforce appeared to be a lobby group for pet projects," the minutes said.

After the minister left, the mayors "were extremely disappointed in the response from the minister and the disrespect with which they had been treated".

This is not the first time Ms Bennett has been the target of recorded criticisms. In 2009, when Grey Power first met the incoming ministers, she was described as needing to "shape up her obligations".

"It appears she thinks a loud laugh will solve all questions put to her and this meeting was a complete waste of her time. Well, it certainly was a waste of ours," the Grey Power notes said.

Questioned in the House by Labour MP Jacinda Ardern, Ms Bennett blamed the minute-taker for not recording a true account of the meeting with the mayors.

"I do not think those minutes are a true and accurate record of what happened at the meeting," she said.

But the meeting's chairman, Otorohanga Mayor Dale Williams, disagreed.

"The mayors that were [at the meeting] felt they had been disrespected.

"That was just one part where the minister got defensive. It was a difficult part of that meeting, but overall ... the relationship is good."

He was disappointed there would not be ongoing support for Youth Transitions, which seeks to support students as they come out of compulsory education. But he understood the budgetary constraints.

Mrs Hulse said there were always tensions between central and local government.

"There's a bit of pressure when we can see what needs to be done in our communities and there's push-back from the Government on funding issues. But the relationship is generally warm and supportive."

TICKED OFF

* Paula Bennett calls the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs a "lobby group for pet projects".

* Mayors were "extremely disappointed in the response from the minister and the disrespect with which they had been treated".