The Dunedin City Council is sticking with tradition after deciding not to scrap the commissioning of oil paintings to recognise the work of outgoing mayors.
Councillors at yesterday's DCC finance and council-controlled organisation committee considered a staff recommendation to axe oil paintings in favour of photographic portraits.
At present, traditional oil paintings of past mayors hang on walls around the Municipal Chambers, except for former mayor Sukhi Turner, who opted for a photograph instead.
However, the staff report pointed to the cost of painted portraits - $23,000 for the most recent example, depicting former mayor Peter Chin - as one reason for a change.
Mayor Dave Cull - who removed himself from yesterday's debate - was next in line for a portrait, after announcing earlier this year he would step down in October.
The staff report also recommended another change to tradition involving the mayoral chain.
Traditionally, any outgoing mayor covered the cost of a new medallion and links - which were added to the existing chain to mark their time in the role - at a cost of about $2400.
The staff report recommended the council should in future cover the cost itself.
However, councillors unanimously voted in favour of the status quo, meaning oil paintings would be continued and Mr Cull would be a little out of pocket come October.
Cr David Benson-Pope said a switch to photographic portraits would be a ''retrograde step'' for the council chambers, which was ''a traditional room''.
Cr Lee Vandervis agreed, saying it was a tradition that had ''real value'', including for the artists commissioned for the work.
Cr Jim O'Malley said he, too, supported the status quo, as photographic portraits would ''cheapen'' the traditional approach.
The remuneration offered to the mayor also meant the $2400 cost of a new addition to the mayoral chain would not be an ''economic burden'', he believed.
Cr Christine Garey also spoke in support, saying the portraits were of ''great interest'' to visitors and her ''personal preference'' was for the tradition to continue.
