• Councillor attendance averaged 89 percent, with several members attending over 90 percent of meetings
  • Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell attended all but one meeting during the full council term
  • Health issues affected Peter Kett's final term, contributing to a lower attendance rate of 67 percent

Attendance figures from the Invercargill City Council show most councillors turned up to the majority of meetings during the latest term, with the average attendance sitting at 89 percent.

Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell topped the list with 98 percent attendance, missing only one of the 60 meetings held. Campbell credited his consistent attendance to staying healthy.

“I don’t claim any special credit for attending every meeting,” he said. “It’s just that I never get ill and therefore I never have any reason not to.”

The overall attendance records show strong commitment from most members, including councillors Grant Dermody and Lesley Soper, who both attended 57 of 60 meetings, giving them 95 percent attendance. Trish Boyle and Steve Broad followed closely behind with 93 percent, although Broad entered the council part-way through the term via a by-election.

Despite facing two health scares during his term, Mayor Nobby Clark managed to attend 87 percent of meetings, excluding those he missed due to other council duties.

Peter Kett, whose term was affected by health issues, had the lowest attendance at 67 percent. Back in July, he joked that he would miss “most of the councillors”.

Mana whenua representatives, while not holding voting rights at full council, also participated in a large number of meetings. Pania Coote attended 82 percent, while Evelyn Cook was present at 73 percent.

Here is a breakdown of councillor attendance during the term:

  • Tom Campbell: 59/60 – 98%
  • Grant Dermody: 57/60 – 95%
  • Lesley Soper: 57/60 – 95%
  • Trish Boyle: 56/60 – 93%
  • Steve Broad: 42/45 – 93%
  • Ian Pottinger: 55/60 – 92%
  • Ria Bond: 54/60 – 90%
  • Darren Ludlow: 54/60 – 90%
  • Allan Arnold: 53/60 – 88%
  • Nobby Clark: 48/55 – 87%
  • Barry Stewart: 52/60 – 87%
  • Alex Crackett: 51/60 – 85%
  • Peter Kett: 40/60 – 67%

Mana whenua attendance:

  • Pania Coote: 82%
  • Evelyn Cook: 73%
Share this article
The link has been copied!