Tensions high over power play at Horowhenua District Council as deputy mayor Wayne Bishop sacked

Horowhenua District Council Mayor Michael Feyen addresses the council meeting this evening. Photo / Facebook

The power play at Horowhenua District Council is far from over, with the emotions running high as the deputy mayor was ousted and replaced.

Last year councillors voted to remove deputy mayor Ross Campbell, and voted councillor Wayne Bishop into the position, against the Mayor's wishes.

Mayor Michael Feyen then tried to reinstate Mr Campbell as his deputy, but was legally unable to.

At a council meeting this evening Mayor Feyen ignored those legal issues, and said he was getting rid of Wayne Bishop as he didn't trust him.

As Feyen stood to speak about the issue, the public gallery erupted into a shouting match.

With difficulty, the Mayor managed to restore quiet.

"You've had your good belt out, you two?

"Just cut it out, please, it's hard enough as it is. It's not an easy council at the moment."

Feyen then resumed his explanation of why he was replacing Bishop.

"As a result of deputy mayor Wayne Bishop's media and other comments to damage and usurp my position as Mayor, I can no longer trust him to carry out the duties of deputy mayor.

"I therefore confirm my original appointment of Councillor Ross Campbell as deputy mayor, to take immediate effect."

Ross Campbell who was unseated as deputy mayor last year, and reinstated by Mayor Michael Feyen this evening. Photo / File

The move was greeted with clapping and cheers from the public gallery, but stunned outrage from fellow councillors.

One councillor told the Mayor he didn't have the authority to make the change.

But Mayor Feyen stuck with the change, pleading with fellow councillors to "just be nice to each other", as they went into an adjournment.

HDC meeting - 26 April 2017

Horowhenua District Council ordinary meeting - Wednesday 26 April 2017.

Posted by Horowhenua District Council on Tuesday, 25 April 2017

The Horowhenua District Council meeting also discussed whether to investigate an alleged Code of Conduct breach by the newly appointed deputy, Ross Campbell.

It related to a video Campbell posted on Facebook two weeks ago, where he questioned a controversial engineer report on the soundness of the council building.

In this evening's meeting, councillor Neville Gimblett filed the Notice of Motion.

He said Mr Campbell was lying in the video.

But Mr Campbell said he got the approval of the Mayor before the content went online.

Last year Mayor Feyen refused to enter the council building because he also thought it was unsafe.

The Council agreed to treat the issue as a formal complaint, and any Code of Conduct breach will now be decided by the council's chief executive.