Elected Watercare chair rolled because unelected arm of council wants their own candidate considered for the job

The recently appointed chair for the country’s largest water provider has served only 12-weeks before being removed by the High Court following challenges made by the independent Maori statutory board for Auckland Council, Houkura.

Geoff Hunt was voted as chair of council-owned Watercare by councillors 3-months ago. During the process, Houkura made claims that standing orders were breached due to a procedural amendment by Councillor Maurice Williamson that was passed and enabled Hunt to win the role.

“We vote councillors in to represent us and make these important choices on our behalf. Isn’t it absurd that an unelected arm of council can go above democracy because they want their own person considered for the job?” said Spokesman for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, Sam Warren.

“Councillor Williamson’s motion was based on both legal and procedural advice by the secretariat, and in all forms was perfectly legitimate. It got voted on and then passed.

“Claiming that the process was procedurally flawed, Houkura wanted their own candidate considered for the role. Now it’s back to the drawing board as the appointment for one of the most important public sector roles in the country is to be reconsidered.

"Something is fundamentally broken when the independent Maori statutory board, which is entirely unaccountable to Auckland ratepayers, can strong-arm elected representatives and overturn their decisions.”