Three southern mayors are concerned for Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, following criticism of his leadership during an independent governance review of the Invercargill City Council, but are treading carefully with their responses in the hope for a positive outcome for the city and Sir Tim’s legacy.  

Clutha District mayor Bryan Cadogan, Central Otago District mayor Tim Cadogan and Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher have all confirmed to the Southland App today that they wrote to independent evaluator Richard Thomson during his investigation, expressing their concerns with the standard of governance at the Invercargill City Council.

Tim Cadogan and Bryan Cadogan declined to comment further today, saying they had raised the appropriate concerns at the appropriate time and further comment would be unhelpful to the council process. 

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Mr Kircher, who is also the chairman of Local Government New Zealand' provincial councils sector, said he shared his thoughts with Mr Thomson as he was concerned not just for the standard of governance at the ICC but also for Sir Tim as he didn’t want to see his good reputation tarnished.

“My concerns are driven by my concerns for him and for someone who has done a lot of good work in the past and who has got this very good reputation and I really don’t want to see that lost,” Mr Kircher said.

Mr Kircher said the governance problems at the ICC urgently needed to be sorted.

“It’s been sitting there bubbling away…. It’s been damaging to Sir Tim, to councillors and the community and it does need to be dealt with and solutions found.”

Mr Kircher said he looked forward to seeing Sir Tim enjoying a “well-deserved retirement”, which would come when the people of Invercargill wanted to see that happen.

Mr Thomson, a clinical psychologist and former Dunedin city councillor, released his governance report on Monday, with Sir Tim quick to condemn it as "flawed" and "unfair" at a media conference.

 Sir Tim Shadbolt condemns the Richard Thomson report on Monday. PHOTO: Lucy Henry

Sir Tim said the report made him out to be the “scape goat” for the council’s leadership issues.

“I refuse to take the mantle of the convenient scapegoat just because it fits the recent portrayal of me by one council faction,” he said.

Mr Thomson highlighted a range of governance issues at the ICC but said the main issue was a “leadership void” within elected council, for which the mayor was held largely responsible.

He acknowledged his conclusion gave distress to many people, including himself.

“This has been a very difficult report to write, principally because of the huge regard that so many have for the mayor’s extremely long service to the City.

"At times people have expressed anxiety about being honest as they are worried about the impact on the Mayor, his mana and his legacy.

"I too have had to confront these issues. I recognize that much of what I have recorded here will be distressing to some, but to pull my punches because of this would have been of little benefit for the City.

"It represents a current set of views and should not be seen as in any way reflecting on the accomplishments of the mayor over more than two decades. These, in the view of almost everyone I have interviewed, have been significant,” Mr Thomson wrote at the end of his report.

In the course of his evaluation, Mr Thomson interviewed councillors, Sir Tim and senior council staff, reviewed council meeting videos and documents, and received unprompted contact from Mr Kircher, Tim Cadogan and Bryan Cadogan.

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Southland District Council mayor Gary Tong said, when contacted by the Southland App, he thought Mr Thomson’s findings were fair.

Mr Tong said he was surprised to hear Sir Tim had slammed Mr Thomson’s conclusions about his lack of leadership, given all elected members, including Sir Tim, had unanimously accepted the report recommendations on November 12.

Mr Tong said he was concerned about what the prolonged disharmony within the Invercargill council could do to the reputation of the council and local councils throughout New Zealand.

 Southland mayor Gary Tong felt Richard Thomson's conclusions were "pretty fair". PHOTO: Supplied

“We’re elected by the people within those communities to look after them and a number of councils are in-fighting… and it’s just - in my view - wrong. We should be looking after the community,” Mr Tong said.

Mr Tong said he felt Mr Thomson's comments at the end of his report were “pretty fair” and summed up how well Mr Thomson had perceived a tricky situation with Sir Tim.

Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks, who is also the chairman of the Southland Mayoral Forum (Invercargill, Gore and Southland districts) could not be reached for comment.

Dunedin City mayor Aaron Hawkins also could not be reached for comment.

Mr Thomson’s report contained 11 recommendations and an action plan to be carried out by the council over the next six to 18 months.

The over-arching aim is to encourage the councillors to work together, rebuild trust and develop a shared culture.

One of the key recommendations is to appoint two independent governance observers from December this year until June 2022, to guide the governance process, at an estimated cost of between $570,000 to $730,000.

READ MORE: Mayor blindsides councillors by slamming findings of Richard Thomson report