8 Dec 2009

Councillors still have confidence in Invercargill mayor

6:50 pm on 8 December 2009

Invercargill City Council members still have confidence in mayor Tim Shadbolt despite conflict between him and his deputy Neil Boniface.

Mr Shadbolt lost his bid to remove Mr Boniface at a council meeting on Monday, after a bitter public dispute. Eight councillors rallied behind Mr Boniface and successfully quashed a no confidence call by the mayor.

Most of the councillors contacted by Radio New Zealand on Tuesday are embarrassed by what has happened and hope the mayor and his deputy can now work together for the benefit of the city.

They wish that the saga can be forgotten and hope Mr Shadbolt and Mr Boniface can now work together.

Councillor Alan Dennis says councillors still have confidence in the mayor. He says a special workshop will be held in the New Year to sort out some of the issues before the run-up to the 2010 elections.

Mr Shadbolt did not return calls from Radio New Zealand.