Bickering back at Waitemata council

Press, 25 February 1989, Page 7

Bickering back at Waitemata council

PA Auckland The bad blood in the Waitemata City Council surfaced again on Thursday evening at a council meeting. At the end of a fourhour meeting, opposing councillors broke into a bout of name-calling and snide remarks.

It was triggered by notices of motion put forward by Cr Bill Haresnape, who was voted on to the council last month after being kicked off with the rest of the “old guard” when Tim’s team swept to power ip 1986.

Cr Peter Furze stood up and accused the Mayor,

Mr Tim Shadbolt, of “acting like a bloody clown and running a circus.” “You disgust me, you’re making a mockery of West Auckland,” he said, before storming out of the chamber with Cr Nick Milina, who had left in disgust. The Mayor had challenged Cr Furze to a fight in the car park at Tuesday’s meeting of the policy and finance committee.

When Cr Fruze made his outburst the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Cr Awa Hudson, scornfully told him to sit down. Cr Stan Blanch said to Cr Haresnape “Why don’t

you grow up. You’re getting silly with all your notices of motion designed to drag out the meeting. “Next time I’ll bring six notices of motion at the end of the meeting.” To which Cr Haresnape replied: “I didn’t know you could count that far, Stan. And if it wasn’t for this council’s general inefficiency I would have to bring these motions forward.”

Cr Harley Neil told Cr Haresnape: “Pathetic! This is absolute political grandstanding. Welcome back to the good old days of the old guard.”