Women councillors are down the pecking order at the Auckland City Council after men took the top five committee chairs to share power with Mayor John Banks and his deputy, Citizens & Ratepayers leader David Hay.
"The men in suits are back," said City Vision councillor Cathy Caseylast night after the seven women on the 19-strong committee missed the cut for the major committee chairs.
Mr Hay, who was behind the committee make-up, cut the number of main committees from 12 to five to run a tighter, less time-consuming committee structure from the previous City Vision-Labour council.
In a ruthless exercise, Mr Hay overlooked experienced C&R councillors Toni Millar, Graeme Mulholland and Noelene Raffills by appointing C&R newcomers to four of the five committees. Greg Moyle was given arts, culture and recreation, Sam Lotu-liga city development, Ken Baguley transport and Paul Goldsmith community services.
C&R deputy leader Doug Armstrong was the only C&R councillor from the previous council to get a main committee when he gained finance, a role he held in the 2001-2004 term under Mr Banks.
Ms Millar, a second-term councillor and arts consultant, was perhaps the most unlucky C&R councillor for missing the arts, culture and recreation chair. She is the deputy chairwoman.
City Vision-Labour, with just five seats on the new council, tried to embarrass C&R by moving an amendment for Ms Millar to chair arts, culture and recreation and Mrs Raffills to chair community development. This was lost.
Mrs Raffills was made chairwoman of the art gallery board, where she will oversee the proposed $93 million upgrade of the historic gallery if the project survives a major review of council spending.
The previous council committed $25 million to the project.
Independent councillor Bill Christian was appointed chairman of the zoo board and City Vision-Labour leader Richard Northey was given the audit and risk committee to chair.
