Campaign for Better Council Governance is committed to educating voters about all candidates standing for election to Tauranga City Council. This includes reviewing those standing for re-election, so we engaged retiring councillor Max Mason to rate in a similar format to that previously done by John Cousins.
Max has the advantage of listening to councillors’ contributions in the regular informal meetings in the Councillors’ Lounge where many opinions and policies are informally shaped and influenced, the same councillors say similar things whether in the Councillors’ Lounge or in the debating chamber.
Max Mason has rated from 10-1 highest to lowest in terms of both contribution in the Council Chamber, and their influence in the Councillors’ Lounge.
Larry Baldock (9/10)
Larry Baldock
Strengths
Intelligent, hard working and a strategic thinker 9/10
Very experienced in local government and his parliamentary experience is valuable
Principle driven and very good grasp of detail
Naturally canny politician with good debating skills. Has provided political leadership in a leadership vacuum
Good committee chair
Weaknesses
Can appear unforgiving and somewhat combatitive
Kelvin Clout (7/10)
Kelvin Clout
Strengths
Hard working, smart and good with numbers
Pleasant, personable and decent
Good understanding of the issues and has an aspirant vision for the city
Weaknesses
Too nice – Needed to have shown some
mongrel in the last triennium
Terry Molloy (7/10)
Terry Molloy
Strengths
The conscience of the community – has a big heart
Deeply concerned about city centre retailers impacted by transformation
Very long history serving his constituency with
genuine commitment and skill
Weaknesses
Feels the pain of his constituents too personally,
which may affect his objectivity
Steve Morris (6/10)
Steve Morris
Strengths
Works hard for his constituency
Only councillor to regularly attempt Te Reo Maori in debates
Weaknesses
Too political?
Occasionally immature
Greg Brownless (5/10)
Greg Brownless
Strengths
Very hard working
Good committee chair
Amusing and personable
Many years in local government
Weaknesses
Lacks strategic perspective
Excessively concerned with costs at the expense of opportunities in my opinion
Too conservative and risk averse
Contributions to debates very predictable – save money and blame the government
Rick Curach (5/10)
Rick Curach
Strengths
Many years in Local Government
Great advocate for transparency
Weaknesses
Too many knee-jerk amendments apparently on a whim, in debates
Did not make the most of leadership opportunity in Transport Committee
Max Mason (5/10)
Max Mason
Strengths
Pleasant and personable
Wide experience of different sectors in Tauranga
Weaknesses
Persisted with unrealistic expectations on how quickly positive change could occur
Not politically minded enough
Too collegial and not assertive enough in criticizing poor performance of councillors and staff
John Robson (4/10)
John Robson
Strengths
Had some business consultancy experience years ago in the UK
Attention to detail
Weaknesses
In debates he frequently and tediously repeats his history, experience and superiority.
Unpredictable
Bill Grainger (4/10)
Bill Grainger
Strengths
Generally amiable until he gets roused
Weaknesses
Has a few passions such as Welcome Bay slipway, and an aquarium but doesn’t add much to debates
