Council
MINUTES
Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Dunedin City Council held in the Council Chamber, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon, Dunedin on Thursday 29 January 2026, commencing at 9:00 a.m.
PRESENT
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Mayor |
Mayor Sophie Barker |
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Deputy Mayor |
Cr Cherry Lucas
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Members |
Cr John Chambers |
Cr Christine Garey |
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Cr Doug Hall |
Cr Marie Laufiso |
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Cr Russell Lund |
Cr Mandy Mayhem |
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Cr Benedict Ong |
Cr Andrew Simms |
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Cr Mickey Treadwell |
Cr Lee Vandervis |
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Cr Steve Walker |
Cr Brent Weatherall |
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IN ATTENDANCE |
Sandy Graham (Chief Executive), Carolyn Allan (Chief Financial Officer), Scott MacLean (General Manager City Services), Nicola Morand (Manahautū - General Manager Community and Strategy), Paul Henderson (General Manager Corporate and Regulatory Services), Mike Costelloe (General Manager, Arts, Culture and Economic Development), John McAndrew (Head of 3 Waters), Hayden McAuliffe (Financial Services Manager) and Jackie Harrison (Manager Governance). |
Governance Support Officer Lynne Adamson
Rev Greg Hughson, Dunedin Interfaith Council opened the meeting with a prayer.
2.1 Mike Collins, CEO Business South
Mr Collins spoke in support of Enterprise Dunedin being established as a Council Controlled Organisation.
Mr Collins responded to questions.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Mandy Mayhem): That the Council:
Confirms the agenda with the following alteration:
That Item 13 – Enterprise Dunedin Review be taken before Item 7 – Committee Structure and Delegations Manual.
Motion carried (CNL/2026/002) |
Members were reminded of the need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arose between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas): That the Council:
a) Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and b) Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests. c) Notes the proposed management plan for the Executive Leadership Team’s Interests. Motion carried (CNL/2026/003) |
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas): That the Council:
a) Confirms the public part of the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 11 December 2025 as a correct record. Motion carried (CNL/2026/004) |
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A report from Enterprise Dunedin informed Council on deliberations on Enterprise Dunedin’s future governance. It drew on operational data, portfolio-specific impact assessments, and benchmarking of other New Zealand economic development agencies, and the lessons learned from similar governance changes in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and other regions. The report evaluated two governance options for Enterprise Dunedin – the Council’s economic development agency – as directed by council resolution on 12 August 2025. The options compared were: a) Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO): Create an arm’s-length entity owned by Council, governed by an independent board and advised by a stakeholder group. b) Enhanced In-House Model: Retain Enterprise Dunedin as an internal unit of the Council, with some functions refined or redistributed within Council. Summary of considerations – conversations with John Gallaher who was adamant about the CCO option and have a clear strategy and mandate. Anything short of that would not shift perception. |
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The Chief Executive (Sandy Graham) and General Manager, Arts, Culture & Economic Development (Mike Costelloe) advised of an update to the summary of considerations, spoke to the report and responded to questions.
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During discussion Cr Christine Garey left the meeting at 9.28 am and returned at 9.31 am.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Andrew Simms): That the Council: a) Agrees its preferred option for consultation is to transfer Enterprise Dunedin into a standalone Council Controlled Organisation (CCO). b) Requests a report from staff for the 12 February 2026 Council meeting to establish a Transition Steering Group, with proposed Terms of Reference that should include: i. membership of the group; ii. authority to consider timing of consultation; iii. necessary delegations to recommend consultation material back to Council; and iv. any resourcing requirements. Division The Council voted by division For: Crs John Chambers, Doug Hall, Cherry Lucas, Russell Lund, Mandy Mayhem, Benedict Ong, Andrew Simms, Lee Vandervis, Steve Walker, Brent Weatherall and Mayor Sophie Barker (11). Against: Crs Christine Garey, Marie Laufiso and Mickey Treadwell (3). Abstained: Nil The division was declared CARRIED by 11 votes to 3 Motion carried (CNL/2026/005) |
Moved (Mayor Sophie/Cr Cherry Lucas):
That the Council:
Adjourns the meeting for 10 minutes
Motion carried
The meeting adjourned at 11.07 and reconvened at 11.20 am.
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A report from Civic presented the Committee Structure and Delegations Manual 2025 for formal adoption by Council. The report noted that changes were made to the 2023 Committee Structure and Delegations Manual to reflect the new Committee Structure, as approved at the Council meeting of 11 November 2025. |
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The Chief Executive (Sandy Graham), Manahautū (General Manager Community and Strategy) Nicola Morand and Manager Governance (Jackie Harrison) spoke to the report and responded to questions.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Mandy Mayhem): That the Council:
a) Adopts the Committee Structure and Delegations Manual 2025. b) Authorises the Chief Executive to make any minor editorial changes. Motion carried (CNL/2026/006) |
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8 Remuneration of External Appointees to Council Committees Policy |
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A report from Civic recommended that Council adopted a policy setting out the remuneration framework for external representatives appointed to Dunedin City Council committees and subcommittees. The remuneration of external appointees was a matter of public interest and required transparency, consistency and alignment with statutory guidance. |
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The Chief Executive (Sandy Graham), Manahautū (General Manager Community and Strategy) Nicola Morand and Manager Governance (Jackie Harrison) spoke to the report and responded to questions.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie/Cr Cherry Lucas):
That the Council:
Adjourns the meeting for 5 minutes.
Motion carried
The meeting adjourned at 11.49 am and reconvened at 11.51 am.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Steve Walker): That the Council:
a) Approves, the Draft Remuneration of External Appointees to Council Committees Policy. Motion carried (CNL/2026/007) with Cr Lee Vandervis recording his vote against |
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A report from Finance provided the financial results for the period ended 30 November 2025 and the financial position as at that date. |
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The Chief Financial Officer (Carolyn Allan) and Financial Services Manager (Hayden McAuliffe) spoke to the report and responded to questions.
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Moved (Cr Cherry Lucas/Cr Lee Vandervis): That the Council:
a) Notes the Financial Performance for the period ended 30 November 2025 and the Financial Position as at that date. Motion carried (CNL/2026/009) |
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A report from Civic advised proposed changes to the meeting schedule for 2026 approved by Council on 11 December 2025, in accordance with Clause 19(6)(a) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002. |
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The Manahautū (General Manager Community and Strategy) Nicola Morand and Manager Governance (Jackie Harrison) spoke to the report and responded to questions.
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Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas): That the Council:
a) Notes the updates to the meeting schedule for 2026. Motion carried (CNL/2026/010) |
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12 Notice of Motion - Options for Recognising Significant Philanthropic and Corporate Contributions |
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In accordance with Standing Order 26.1, the following Notice of Motion was received from Cr Benedict Ong. |
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Moved (Cr Benedict Ong/Cr Andrew Simms): That the Council:
a) Requests a report on options for recognising significant philanthropic and corporate contributions through conditional, non-commercial naming recognition of selected public asses (excluding residential streets), such as trails, buildings and facilities and subject to statutory, cultural, and community safeguards, and consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. b) Requests a report be completed in time for consideration as part of the development of the 10 year plan. Division The Council voted by division
For: Crs Russell Lund and Benedict Ong (2). Against: Crs John Chambers, Christine Garey, Doug Hall, Marie Laufiso, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Andrew Simms, Mickey Treadwell, Lee Vandervis, Steve Walker, Brent Weatherall and Mayor Sophie Barker (12). Abstained: Nil
The division was declared LOST by 12 votes to 2
Motion carried (CNL/2026/011) |
The meeting closed at 1.06 pm
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MAYOR