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City councilors have called Wellington Mayor Andy Foster’s appearance in a Shelly Bay occupation “staggering”, “disrespectful” and undemocratic.
But Foster, an opponent of the $ 500 million Shelly Bay development project, said he thought he was simply attending a “community meeting” Sunday afternoon.
Ross Giblin / Stuff
Timothy Wagner, left, Anaru Mepham, Stafford Tawhai, Hinekaa Mako and Tere Harrison are part of a group that has established an occupation that opposes the development of Shelly Bay.
That was despite a photo showing him helping with a tent.
The occupiers aim to stop any work at the Miramar site before a case is heard in the High Court regarding the validity of an iwi land sale in March, extending the occupation until then.
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They have set up a camp on the land that Wellington City Council voted on earlier this month to sell and lease to developer Ian Cassels. The deal is expected to be completed in the new year, which means Cassels could take possession of the occupied lands.
Deputy Mayor Sarah Free and Councilmember Sean Rush, who opposed the municipal development sale along with Foster, also made appearances at the protest Sunday.
Councilmember Fleur Fitzsimons said Foster’s appearance was puzzling, as councilors had voted 9 to 6 two weeks ago to approve the sale of the land.
“I am amazed to see our mayor protest in this way against a decision of his own council,” she said.
Supplied
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster set up a tent in Shelly Bay on Sunday.
Councilmember Jill Day said Foster was disrespecting the council by taking sides with opponents of development.
“The mayor has compromised his ability to represent us as a council by flagrantly ignoring a council decision.”
Ross Giblin / Stuff
The occupation of Shelly Bay began when Anaru Mepham became a sentry at the site.
Councilwoman Rebecca Matthews said the council had agreed to put the vote behind her and “move on.”
“He is the mayor. Even if you don’t like the result, it gives you organizational responsibility and leadership responsibility. “
Councilmember Tamatha Paul said Foster had chosen to “totally ignore the will of his council.”
Ross Giblin / Stuff
The United Tribes flag in Shelly Bay, where a land occupation is taking place.
But Foster said he thought he was attending a community meeting and saw no problem with his visit.
“I didn’t know what I was going to find when I was there or who I was going to find.”
He said he hadn’t helped set up any tents, but helped repair one.
Mau Whenua posted a picture on social media Sunday of Foster along with the comment: “That time the mayor showed up in his suit to help us pitch the tent!”
Free said he had no intention of attending the protest, but would take her home with Foster after an event at Government House when Foster suggested they stop by the meeting.
“I thought it was a meeting at the Chocolate Fish Cafe.”
She said she called her husband to pick her up.
Rush said he accepted an invitation to speak at a meeting in Shelly Bay at 2 p.m. and then met up with Foster and Free, who had arrived after it ended.
They walked back to where the occupation was being set up, but one tent had an apparently broken pole. Foster went to help fix the problem, Rush said.
“He was quite comfortable with people taking photos. I certainly thought about what this looks like. “
Council spokesman Richard MacLean said a strict reading of the rules meant that the occupants should have obtained a permit to protest on council land, but the council was not going to enforce this.
If necessary, the council would consider providing portable toilets for protesters, he said.
Cassels declined to comment.
