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A group of councillors last month called for Gore District Mayor Ben Bell to resign, but backed down from a vote of no confidence.
A report, prepared by deputy chief executive Rex Capil to accompany the petition, said an analysis found a total of 54 duplicate signatories from the 4858 who signed it.
Just over nine per cent of the signatories said they were from Gore, 12 per cent from Southland, 29 per cent did not state their location and 46 per cent said they were from elsewhere in New Zealand.
“A key point for the council to discuss and debate when considering whether to receive or not receive this petition is with respect to the petition status — including its validity, credibility and legality in terms of fulfilling its stated purpose. In other words, can the petition achieve what its purpose was intended and if not, what may be any unintended consequences for the council, especially as an employer?” Capil said.
The petition would be presented by Bell on behalf of its organiser, Sean Burke.
Capil noted the council unanimously agreed at an extraordinary meeting last month that, “the mayor and councillors support and have full confidence in the chief executive and staff in providing for the ongoing functioning of the council in undertaking its day-to-day activities”.
French investors are reportedly worried about time and cost blowouts on Auckland's City Rail Link project. The Waikato River is safe again from extreme arsenic levels.
V/ NZ Herald
