Councillor Reynold Macpherson referred to authoritarianism 18 times in the 2234-word press release. Photo / File
Councillor Reynold Macpherson referred to authoritarianism 18 times in the 2234-word press release. Photo / File
An outspoken Rotorua Lakes councillor has labelled the mayor's leadership as "authoritarian".
Reynold Macpherson says he believes the mayor is freezing out elected members belonging to his lobby group, Rotorua District Residents and Ratepayers (RDRR), by denying them leadership appointments — and the pay rises that go with them.
But Mayor Steve Chadwick has defended her appointment choices, saying it was her role to build a positive team to take the district forward, while her deputy called the "authoritarian" claim "laughable".
Macpherson made his claims in a 2234-word press release.
He took aim at what he describes as "extraordinary salary rises" approved at a council meeting on December 12.
In divvying up the salary pool for councillors - set by the Remuneration Authority - the council voted to give higher salaries to councillors assigned additional leadership roles.
The base salary was $55,000, with an extra $15,750 - $27,042 for a "lead" role - portfolios - as well as chair or deputy chair roles.
Councillors Raj Kumar (left) and Peter Bentley, both members of Rotorua Residents and Ratepayers, have not been allocated councillor lead roles. Photo / file
None of the three RDRR-affiliated councillors - Macpherson, Peter Bentley and Raj Kumar - had been given a lead, so would only receive the base salary.
Kumar, a business owner, was first elected in 2016 and in last year's election had the second-highest vote tally of any councillor, Bentley has served on council since 2013 and Macpherson, a PhD, is a former Waiariki Institute of Technology chief executive.
"[It's] bizarre, given our expertise," Macpherson said.
Macpherson claimed that the lack of portfolios for RDRR-affiliated councillors was a "revealing anomaly" and the Rotorua Lakes Council was trending toward a government akin to China's.
"They've not yet eliminated the opposition, we're being gradually marginalised.
"We have been trending to a one-party government. It's already well-advanced in Rotorua."
Macpherson refers to authoritarianism 18 times in the release, including describing the lead roles as a "reward system bolstering the trend towards authoritarian one-party local government".
He also described the council leadership style as "tyrannical collectivism".
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says it is her role to lead a "positive team" and that is what she was doing with elected member appointments. Photo / supplied
In a statement via the council's communications team, Chadwick did not specifically respond to Macpherson's comments and criticisms of her leadership.
"It is my role as mayor to build a positive team to take our district forward, based on the direction that has been set and that is what I am doing with regard to elected member appointments," she said.
Deputy mayor Dave Donaldson said the idea that RDRR members had been deliberately shut out of lead roles was "probably fair".
"The RDRR ... has a political agenda which is at odds with the vision and direction of council on a number of key issues."
At the core of those was opposition to the Te Arawa partnership, as well as partnerships with some other groups, he said.
Non-RDRR members of council had a "range of personal aspirations".
"We are not a 'party' but we share a collective vision arrived at in workshops with our partner elected board members, iwi and community."
He said assertions Chadwick or her leadership style was authoritarian was "typical rhetoric and laughable".
"Mayor Chadwick's leadership style won her a comprehensive mandate in the 2019 mayoral election, so the community's verdict on preferred leadership style is well and truly returned."
