New mayor welcomed: tributes to former mayor
'We bid you all the best as we launch this waka' new council told
A new city council has been sworn in, starting with that of the ‘first citizen’ - Mayor Jules Radich.
The newly elected mayor was welcomed into a packed Fullwood Room by a bagpiper in the Dunedin Centre on Wednesday, at 1pm.
Edward Ellison, on behalf of mana whenua, welcomed councillors and acknowledged the Māori ancestry of Radich (Ngāpuhi).
“We bid you all the best as we launch this waka,” he told the council.
Radich addressed the room in te reo, which acknowledged mana whenua.
“To all people of this whenua, all people of the four winds, and the people of Dunedin I acknowledge everyone here today.”
As part of the formalities, Sandy Graham, Dunedin City Council chief executive, had to give a health and safety briefing before inviting the mayor to come forward.
She welcomed Radich, who thanks to the recent election had become the city’s “first citizen”.
He was fitted with the robes of office, which were not intended to glorify the individual “but rather they were a uniform of office in respect and honour of the people you serve,” she said.
The chain of office, a gift from the Chamber of Commerce in 1909, features donated links from previous mayors, and a taonga was gifted in 2019.
“You are so tall,” Graham said in a light-hearted moment when placing the chain around Mayor Radich’s head.
She then wished him a successful term in office, before shaking his hand to loud applause.
After welcoming his councillors, Radich gave a few words thanking those who had voted for the council to serve “the wonderful city of Dunedin”.
He acknowledged Aaron Hawkins for his service to the Dunedin community as councillor for the six years from 2013 – 2019 and as mayor for the three years from 2019 – 2022.
After two weeks in the position, he appreciated the time and effort involved in the role, and that Hawkins balanced that with a young family.
His focus was on the social and environmental wellbeing of Dunedin, and “he worked very hard at it”.
“I thank you Aaron, I for one will miss his magnificent oratory skills, and wry sense of humour.”
Cr Christine Garey, a deputy mayor under Hawkins, gave a heartfelt speech to Hawkins, who was not present, and which was aimed at his six-year-old son.
She noted that there was no “rule book” in how to lead the city during a global pandemic: “Aaron led with great courage and compassion, always mindful of those who were struggling and most vulnerable.”
The improvement to the city’s playgrounds and the city securing hosting rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, were recent success stories.
“And I’m sure he will take you with him, as I know you play football.”
Hawkins, as a leader of the city, “had a vision for the future, and it was never about him, it was never about popularity, it was always with a view for future generations”.
Cr Steve Walker noted the online and offline abuse Hawkins received over his tenure and hoped that the new mayor would not “be a recipient of some of the things the previous mayor had to go through”.
Cr Marie Laufiso said Hawkins was a teacher to her when she was first elected to council.
She noted that Hawkins’ wife, Anya, said “I have my husband back” when the election results came in.
Other councillors also offered heartfelt tributes to Hawkins and to former colleague Rachel Elder, who was on council for six years.
“We will miss you so much,” Radich told Elder.
Radich detailed the new composition of council committees, from the standard four to seven.
He hoped the new committees would provide a consistent line from council staff to councillors, and then to the public.
The first sign of how the new council would function came when it voted 14-1 (Vandervis voted against) to include mana whenua membership on the Strategy and Engagement Committee and the Infrastructure Services Committee.
If you want to know what those on council are earning, check this out:
a) Approves annual remuneration of $112,619 for the Deputy Mayor.
b) Approves annual remuneration of $91,382 for Chairs of Standing Committees.
c) Approves annual remuneration of $80,442 for Deputy Chairs of Standing Committees.
d) Approves annual remuneration of $64,353 for Councillors.
An amendment put forward by Cr Laufiso to change some of that payment structure (effectively paying councillors more at the expense of the other positions) was lost 11-4.
That meant two councillors, Benson-Pope and Walker, received $64,353, while others around the table were paid significantly more, including the five new councillors.
Cr Andrew Whiley noted that the pair were offered roles, and that others around the table would have to shoulder more work as a result.
One to watch.
ICYMI: I covered this last night, pretty harrowing details have emerged.
Dunedin also had an armed police callout this morning.
As part of the long weekend I checked out the Farmers Block redevelopment in the CBD.
It is looking pretty swanky.
I’m certain the new council will go with a review (this is politics after all) on the project, but won’t change anything.
I checked in with Glen Hazelton, the Dunedin City Council's central city plan project director, for an update on the project.
He expected paving the road should be completed by next week, with most of the barriers (pictured below) to be pulled back.
That just leaves the road, with the mortar used requiring at least a week to cure (weather dependent, of course).
All going well, motor vehicles will once again return to this part of George St by November 11.
The cruise ship season officially began today, and after 955 days since the last arrival, and I understand many are wary given recent redevelopments.
The Celebrity Eclipse brought 2850 passengers to Dunedin, and was welcomed with a pōwhiri and kapa haka.
Enterprise Dunedin Manager John Christie said : “This was a long-awaited day after more than two and half years without cruise visitation.”
The last full cruise season was $60,244,000 in 2018-19.
In the next week, Dunedin is getting a special visitor: Tazuni the football loving penguin, who is confident AND stylish. But can a penguin play football?
Coming up is a vinyl release day for this Dunedin gem. You can listen to the tracks here, or go buy it from the good people at Relics.
I’ll leave you with Tweet(s) of the Week so please check these out:
