Resolution to Auckland Council rift if Goff 'more inclusive', councillor says

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Embattled Auckland Mayor Phil Goff faced unhappy councillors during a private meeting in his office on Tuesday.

A rift between Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and some of his council colleagues will only be fixed if Goff changes his leadership style, a city councillor has said.

Goff said he held a 'Chatham Rules' meeting with councillors on Tuesday afternoon to encourage fellow elected members to get certain issues 'off their chest'.

'I believe every councillor wants to ensure they're focused on the big issues and not personal politics,' he said.

The meeting follows a testing few weeks for the mayor – he faces an Ombudsman's probe for his handling of a report on a possible new city centre stadium, while last week he got a letter from nine councillors claiming of a lack of transparency and distrust.

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But speaking to Stuff after the meeting, councillor Greg Sayers said: 'The jury is still very much out'.

'The only resolution will be if the mayor has capacity to change to a more inclusive leadership style,' he said.

Sayers would not comment further, saying Goff and the councillors agreed 'what happened in the room would stay in the room'.

Councillor Chris Darby said the meeting was a chance for 'a good reflection' and to 'tune into people'.

'What's said in a meeting like that stays in the meeting,' he said.

Councillor Richard Hills called the discussion 'positive', while Daniel Newman said he was on the 'same side' as Sayers.

He said: 'I stand by the letter, because I signed it, and I stand by my comments at the governing body [meeting] in December last year, which was about trying to move to a more equitable leadership style that shares work and shares responsibility,' he said.

'The jury is out as to whether that will be achieved, but I will certainly support measures to give effect to those things.'

Newman would not be drawn on questions about the mood at the meeting.

'People know that they have to be responsible for the privilege of leadership that they hold and so it's important for people to … have an open mind and an open heart,' he said.

Goff said there was a good turnout at the meeting and most had welcomed the opportunity for an informal 'board-only' discussion where comments could be kept off the public record.

He said: 'Of course I understand that this is a political institution and people have different views, different stands on different issues and debate is part and parcel of democracy.

Councillors present agreed to having discussions 'more informally, more often', Goff said.

The stadium report and information protocols were also major points of discussion, the mayor said.

'I want to build an atmosphere of trust but it's got to be reciprocated.

'It only takes one person to leak a document that's commercially sensitive and then you're in some trouble with the person that gave you that information.'

The meeting follows a backlash against Goff, which appears to have stemmed from the ousting of Wayne Walker as deputy chairman of the regulatory committee during a December 14 meeting.

Some councillors at that meeting attacked the mayor for only calling Walker the day before he attempted to relieve him of his deputy chairmanship.

Councillor Cathy Casey accused Goff of having an 'A' team and a 'B' team of councillors.

Goff acknowledged the events of December may have been discussed 'in passing' during the Tuesday meeting with councillors.

Goff is also facing an Ombudsman's investigation into his handling of a pre-feasibility report looking into the pros and cons of building a new waterfront stadium in Auckland.

The report found a new stadium, which would have a retractable roof and seat up to 55,000 spectators, would cost up to $1.5 billion. That is $700 million more than it would cost to improve Eden Park.

Goff was earlier accused of trying to limit councillors' access to the report.

Councillors Efeso Collins and John Watson previously claimed the full report could only be viewed in Goff's office, under supervision.

Collins said he was 'absolutely appalled by how this has been handled'.

He, along with councillors Casey and John Watson, complained about Goff's handling of the report and last week, the mayor received a letter, signed by nearly half his councillors, containing claims of bullying and a toxic culture of distrust.