Code of Conduct.

Wed 9 May 18.

Code of Conduct issues will not hinder good work of Council

Ruapehu Mayor Don Cameron said that people can be assured that the Code of Conduct matter at today's Council meeting was not going to hinder Council working together to deliver against its development objectives for Ruapehu and its people.

The Code of Conduct complaint was made by Councillors Ngatai and Wheeler who felt that the behaviour of Councillor Windell had not been in keeping with the standards expected of an elected member notably in the use of social media, he said.

Councillors considered whether to receive an assessment report into the Code of Conduct complaint undertaken by an independent investigator Jonathan Salter of law firm Simpson Grierson in accordance with Council's Code of Conduct rules to help ensure fairness to all parties.

Ultimately the assessment report was left to lie on the table to allow Councillor Windell time to talk with Mr Salter about aspects of the report before his reply to Council on it.

Mayor Cameron said that Ruapehu has always had a high degree of respect amongst its elected members which has been a point of cultural pride in how the business of Council is conducted.

"It is important to recognise that the code of conduct issues have nothing to do with different councilors having different views on matters to do with Council business," he said.

As would be expected in any robust democratic situation the councillors often have passionate debates on different issues and vote in different ways.

Win or lose however members have always respected each other and kept the debate in-house within the formal Council meeting.

We do not want to see this lost.

In their own way elected members are united behind our focus of driving and supporting the development of safe, prosperous rural communities that are able to capitalise on our agriculture, business and tourism sectors while sustaining our beautiful environment.

The majority support the approach we are taking to achieve these objectives which is delivering a growing confidence in Ruapehu's future.

They are clear in their view that it shouldn't be allowed to distract from all the good work Council is doing and the progress we are making.

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