Selwyn_Times: October 11, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 11 2023
4
NEWS
Council
appoints
McKay
• By Daniel Alvey
THE COUNCIL has appointed its
mana whenua representative.
Megen McKay will join councillors
as the representative selected
by the local iwi Te Taumutu
Rūnanga.
McKay will have speaking and
voting rights on all council committees
and only speaking rights
at the full council meetings.
The selection comes after a
council decision in December
to meet commitments made in
a relationship agreement signed
by Te Taumutu Rūnanga and the
council late last year.
McKay has extensive legal and
governance experience. She is also
an independent hearing commissioner,
Tāwhaki Joint Venture
board member, and Kaitorete Ltd
director.
She is a former member of the
Te Waihora Co-Governance
Group and has previously worked
in leadership positions at Te
Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Te
Taumutu Rūnanga.
Other councils around the
country also now have similar
roles.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Community board emails
reveal sticking points
• By Daniel Alvey
EXPORT QUALITY MEATS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES
EMAILS BETWEEN Malvern
Community Board members
have revealed some of the
tension that led to two members
resigning, triggering a byelection.
Two weeks ago Selwyn
Times revealed that infighting
and relationship breakdowns
between board members had led
to the resignation of Sean Ellis
and chair Ken May.
May took a swipe on his way
out at his fellow board members
saying, “I’m too old to be pissing
around with children.”
He singled out Calvin Payne
and Sharn Nu’u, calling them
“no brainers”, and said Ellis
thought he was “god”.
But Nu’u and Ellis shot back
saying May was not acting
appropriately as chair. Ellis
called May’s comments”vulgar”
and “uncouth”.
Now emails released to Selwyn
Times by the council under
the Local Government Official
Information and Meeting
Act 1987 have shown some of
the sticking points between
board members which include
CONFLICT: The Malvern Community Board in happier days -
(from left) Sharn Nu’u, Sean Ellis, Ken May, Bruce Russell and
Calvin Payne. ​
the Springfield Donut and a
suggested road trip.
In an email on Friday,
September 8 Payne said there
were “significant safety issues”
with the donut and that it should
be blocked off until a safety
review could be undertaken by
the council.
On the same day issues with
the donut were raised, May
suggested going for a road trip
on September 11 or 12 around
Instore & Online
9-15 Oct
the district.
“It will give us an opportunity
to talk and settle some
differences,” he wrote.
May told Selwyn Times the
road trip would have given them
a chance to go out to Springfield
and discuss the issues between
the board.
Via email both Payne and Nu’u
declined the road trip saying
they were unavailable, with Nu’u
finding the purpose of the trip
“somewhat ambiguous”.
Nu’u told Selwyn Times one
business day’s notice was not
enough time to find time, and
the group was supposed to meet
on Wednesday, September 13 for
an informal meeting.
While Payne said the trip
would have needed at least two
weeks’ notice for the community
to be notified.
Since the resignations, the
board has had one meeting on
September 25. Council board
appointee Lydia Gliddon said
the resignations were not raised
during the meeting.
As of Monday, Brian Donnelly
was the only person to have a
nomination for the Hawkins
seat, while there were none for
the Tawerea seat.
Nominations are open until
noon on Thursday, October 19.
If a voting process is required
to fill one or both vacancies,
it will be conducted by postal
voting, closing on Friday 15
December 2023.
• For more information
on who can stand in the
election, visit selwyn.govt.
nz/elections
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