Confusion over petition to remove Gore council interim CEO Parry

Friday, 3 November 2023

Ructions continue at the Gore District Council, where a councillor is understood to be taking legal advice to stop the interim chief executive analysing a petition calling for his own removal. (File photo)

There is confusion about the location of a second petition calling for the removal of interim chief executive Stephen Parry from the Gore District Council.

The newly-formed Gore District Residents Action Group launched a petition last month calling on Parry to not be appointed as interim chief executive.

Group spokesperson Hayden McIntyre told Stuff last Friday that the petition would remain open until the following Monday, and would be presented at a council meeting on Tuesday.

But the petition did not appear on the agenda, and was not mentioned at the meeting.

On Thursday, the group issued a press release saying the petition had been provided to the council that day.

On Friday morning, a council spokesperson said it had not been received.

Gore District councillor Robert McKenzie is understood to have a petition calling for the removal of interim chief executive Stephen Parry. (File photo)

McIntyre told Stuff he understood Gore District councillor Robert McKenzie was holding the copies of the petition securely, pending the mayor's return to Gore on Friday afternoon.

“We understand they may be seeking independent advice given the conflict of interest for the chief executive or the staff in receiving the petition.”

McKenzie had been contacted for comment but had not replied.

Gore District Citizen Action Group has circulated a petition calling for Stephen Parry not to be appointed as interim chief executive at the Gore District Council. He has accepted the position, but the petition will still be presented.

The group’s press release said McIntyre also requested that the council set aside standing orders in receiving the petition, because it would be ‘’a nonsense’’ for the chief executive or any of his employees to analyse it.

“Our preference is that the mayor appoints an independent person,” McIntyre said.

“Outgoing chief executive Mr Parry has a vested interest in finding a loophole for the petition not being accepted – as do his senior staff.”

On Friday afternoon, a council spokesperson said: ‘’The council hasn’t received the petition, and it hasn’t been sighted by senior management, therefore we can’t comment further.”

McIntyre said in the press release that the petition had gained 300 signatures from a cross-section of the community.

“Old and young, rural and urban have all come together to request the council gets rid of Mr Parry once and for all,” it said.

He had faith that mayor Ben Bell would listen to his community and act accordingly.

“Not once has the mayor spoken disrespectfully about the outgoing chief executive, despite Mr Parry publicly stating he cannot work with the mayor.'

Parry resigned from the council last month and was due to finish work last Tuesday. He agreed to take the role of interim chief executive after deputy chief executive Rex Capil resigned to take up a senior role at Invercargill City Council.

The council started advertising for a replacement for Parry this week and hoped to interview candidates in the New Year.