Mayor criticised for not attending major events

The priorities of Dunedin’s mayor have come under fire after he did not attend two high-profile events in the city at the weekend.

• Otago Hall of Fame awards 
• Celebrating continuing relevance that is Hotere

Mayor Aaron Hawkins did not attend the Westpac Otago Business Awards on Friday night, nor the Otago Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday.

He initially had a clash as he was in Auckland for a meeting. But when a new Covid-19 community case emerged in the northern city late last week, and the potential for an alert level change emerged, he flew back early on Friday.

He attended the Ralph Hotere: Atete (to resist) exhibition opening at the Dunedin Public Gallery that night.

Dunedin businessman Ian Taylor criticised Mr Hawkins for not attending the other events, questioning his priorities.

‘‘In these, the most challenging of times, surely our leader should be up front celebrating and supporting the people who are on the ground getting things done,’’ he said.

He was also unimpressed by deputy mayor Christine Garey telling the Hall of Fame ceremony audience that Mr Hawkins was not there because he had a prior commitment - the Auckland trip from which he had returned.

He said other members of the business community had shared similar concerns with him at the weekend.

Mr Hawkins yesterday said he went to Auckland to meet the chief executive of Air New Zealand at the company’s annual mayoral forum on Thursday.

‘‘Connectivity to the city is something I know is of concern to our local business community.’’

He planned to stay in Auckland until Saturday for the final wananga of Tuia, a year-long mentorship programme supporting a young Dunedin woman, but the Covid uncertainties meant he flew home on Friday instead.

Both the awards and the opening of the Hotere exhibition needed to be celebrated, he said.

‘‘‘Atete’ is a nationally significant cultural achievement honouring one of our greatest ever artists.

‘‘As such, it was important that the city was represented at both. The deputy mayor left early to represent us at the town hall.’’

He applauded the Hall of Fame initiative and said he was humbled to be asked to be a judge.

‘‘Cr Garey and I work as a team, and I don’t accept that her attending events in my stead necessarily diminishes the value that we place on them as a city.’’

He had earlier recorded a video message that was played at the awards ceremony, in which he said he could not attend because he was in Auckland.

Cr Garey said she and Mr Hawkins often shared engagements when he was unavailable. She said she told attendees at the Hall of Fame event that she was attending in Mr Hawkins’ stead because he had a prior engagement.

‘‘I don’t need to explain why we can’t do things,’’ she said.

While Mr Hawkins was unexpectedly back in the city on Friday night, they continued on with the plan for Mrs Garey to attend engagements at the weekend.