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 Monday 03 August 2026, commencing at 10.01 am

 

PRESENT

 

Mayor

Mayor Sophie Barker

 

Deputy Mayor

Cr Cherry Lucas

 

 

Members

Cr John Chambers

Cr Jo Galer via zoom

 

Cr Christine Garey

Cr Doug Hall

 

Cr Marie Laufiso

Cr Russell Lund via zoom

 

Cr Mandy Mayhem

Cr Benedict Ong

 

Cr Andrew Simms

Cr Mickey Treadwell

 

Cr Lee Vandervis

Cr Steve Walker

 

Cr Brent Weatherall

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

Scott MacLean (Acting Chief Executive/General Manager City Services),Carolyn Allan (Chief Financial Officer), David Ward (General Manager 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development), 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), Gina Hu’akau (Community Partnerships Manager), Berkay Kocak (Policy Analyst) and Danielle Tolson (Policy Analyst)

 

Governance Support Officer                  Lynne Adamson

 

 

 

1          Public Forum

There was no Public Forum.

 

2          Apologies

 

There were no apologies.

 

 

 

3          Confirmation of agenda

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

Confirms the agenda without addition or alteration.

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/113)

 

4          Declarations of interest

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.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

a)         Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register attached as Attachment A; and

b)        Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests.

c)         Notes the proposed management plan for the Executive Leadership Teams’ interests.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/114)

   

Reports

5          Simplifying Local Government Decision Making Report

 

A report from Community Services and Corporate Policy sought Council's direction on both its preferred strategic direction for local government reform in Otago and how the Dunedin City Council (DCC) would participate in the Government's Simplifying Local Government (SLG) reform programme. It outlined the implementation pathways established by the Government, summarises the regional work undertaken through the Otago Mayoral Forum (OMF), and considered the strategic implications for Dunedin.

 

The Manahautū (General Manager Community and Strategy) (Nicola Morand) and Community Partnerships Manager (Gina Hu’akau) spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

Cr Brent Weatherall left the meeting at 10.07 am and returned at 10.09 am.

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

 

That the Council:

 

             Adjourns the meeting for 5 minutes.

 

             Motion carried

 

The meeting adjourned at 10.17 am and reconvened at 10.19 am

Cr Benedict Ong returned to the meeting at 10.20 am.

 

During discussion it was moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

 

That the Council:

 

             Adjourns the meeting for 5 minutes.

 

             Motion carried

 

The meeting adjourned at 10.22 am and reconvened at 10.23 am.

Cr Benedict Ong left the meeting at 10.23 am.

Cr Jo Galer entered the meeting at 10.46 am.

Cr Russell Lund entered the meeting at 10.47 am.

 

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

  1. Agrees to work with Queenstown Lakes District Council to develop and, subject to the agreement of both councils, submit a Head Start proposal in support of a Two Unitary Catchment Based model comprising:

i)                    Inland Otago Unitary Authority; and

ii)                  Coastal Otago Unitary Authority,

 

with regional council functions supported through an appropriate shared services arrangement.

  1. Requests staff to develop the Head Start proposal in conjunction with Queenstown Lakes District Council staff.
  2. Authorises the Mayor to sign and submit the Head Start proposal, following circulation of the final draft to all Councillors.
  3. Notes that submission of the Head Start proposal was contingent on the agreement and joint participation of Queenstown Lakes District Council.
  4. Notes that participation in the Government's Head Start process enables Council to contribute to and influence the future design of local government reform in Otago.
  5. Notes that the Mayor will continue to engage with the Mayors of Otago and Southland as discussions regarding local government reform progress.
  6. Notes that Dunedin City Council will continue to partner with Ngāi Tahu throughout the development of the proposal and any subsequent detailed design processes.
  7. Notes that participation in the development and submission of a Head Start proposal does not commit Council to a final local government structure or governance model, which would remain subject to further design, engagement, statutory processes, and future decisions of the participating councils and the Government.

Division

The Council voted by division

 

For:                 Crs John Chambers, Christine Garey, Doug Hall, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Mickey Treadwell, Steve Walker, Brent Weatherall and Mayor Sophie Barker (9).

Against:         Crs Jo Galer, Russell Lund, Andrew Simms and Lee Vandervis (4).

Abstained:   Cr Marie Laufiso (1).

 

The division was declared CARRIED by 9 votes to 4

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/115)

 

The Mayor acknowledged Dave Ward's departure from the Council and thanked him for his contribution to Council projects and water reform work. Councillors noted his expertise, professionalism, and strong community engagement. Mr Ward was thanked with applause.

 

Resolution to Exclude the Public

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Cherry Lucas):

That the Council:

 

a)       Pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, exclude the public from the following part of the proceedings of this meeting namely:

General subject of the matter to be considered

 

Reasons for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution

 

Reason for Confidentiality

C1  Property matter - natural hazards

S7(2)(g)

The withholding of the information is necessary to maintain legal professional privilege.

S48(1)(a)

The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.

 

This resolution is made in reliance on Section 48(1)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and the particular interest or interests protected by Section 6 or Section 7 of that Act, or Section 6 or Section 7 or Section 9 of the Official Information Act 1982, as the case may require, which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public are as shown above after each item.

b)    Adjourns for the meeting for 5 minutes.

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/116)

 

The meeting moved into confidential at 11.46 am and concluded at 2.07 pm

 

..............................................

MAYOR