Selection of commissioners splits Horizons Regional Council

Horizons regional councillors have overturned staff advice and appointed one of their own as a commissioner to decide on the region’s urban development plans.

The majority of councillors voted in favour of appointing colleague Fiona Gordon to sit on the hearing panel that will consider submissions on Plan Change 3 on Urban Development.

Whanganui representative Alan Taylor said there should be someone on the panel with local knowledge deciding the rules for ensuring the region had enough land available for future housing.

Taylor said the council had supported Gordon to train and become accredited as a resource management commissioner, and should give her the opportunity to gain experience in the role.

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Cr Jono Naylor said he was fundamentally opposed to councillors acting as commissioners on the panels it appointed.

He also said it was bad process for the alternative to the staff recommendations to be sprung on councillors just before the meeting.

Naylor said it would be a breach of natural justice, as other people considered by staff as potential commissioners, but who had now been passed over, had not had a last-minute opportunity to put their case to councillors.

He said the council needed to appoint the best and most experienced commissioners, not feel obliged to give one of its own an opportunity to practise.

Council chairwoman Rachel Keedwell described the last-minute push for Gordon to be appointed as subterfuge.

She voted against Gordon’s appointment, and said the council should appoint the people with the best experience if they wanted the best outcome, rather than be thinking in terms of giving someone experience.

Horizons group manager for strategy, regulation and science Nic Peet said Plan Change 3 was essential to fulfil the council’s obligations to give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development.

The policy required councils to ensure sufficient land was available for future housing and business development.

It included planning for well-functioning urban environments, improving resilience to climate change, and taking account of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Gordon, who abstained from voting, will sit alongside independent commissioners Trevor Robinson as chairman, selected for his legal knowledge and skills, and Miria Pomare, selected for her Tikanga Māori knowledge.

She will displace the staff recommendation of Elizabeth Burge, who had sat on several plan change and consent hearings for Horizons in the past.

The hearing is expected to be held later this year, and will provide the framework for Palmerston North city and the region’s district councils to refine their own planning for urban development, including housing density.