Duncan takes aim at a Far North mayor’s explosive reply, asking what it says about accountability, co-governance, and the state of local democracy.
Today on the podcast, Duncan Garner addresses what might be the worst advertisement for local government accountability in New Zealand history.
The situation in the Far North has reached a boiling point. It follows serious claims from Councillor Davina Smolders about the influence of unelected members at the council table, alleging that 15 Iwi and Hapu representatives sit alongside just six elected members on certain committees.
When Duncan reached out to Mayor Moko Tepania to offer him a fair and professional right of reply, the response was a direct and profane "f off" sent from the Mayor himself. Duncan argues this isn't just an insult to the media, but a "one-fingered salute" to the ratepayers who fund the council and deserve transparency.