Hamilton ratepayers fork out $1.6 million a year in salaries for their 18-member city council, but one councillor didn’t attend a third of its meetings.
The rest of the councillors’ attendance since November 2022 ranged between 80 and 98 percent for 20 full council meetings and 30 committee meetings.
Non-attendance is recorded in the minutes of the following meeting and councillors can be listed as absent, absent on council business, partial attendance, lateness and early departure.
RNZ collated the data between November 2022 and April this year, totalling 50 meetings and including five standing committees where all 15 councillors were members: Finance and Monitoring, Economic Development, Strategic Growth and District Plan, Infrastructure and Transport, and Community and Natural Environment.
The attendance of three Maangai Maaori representatives was 100 percent.
The elected representative with the worst attendance record, Kirikiriroa Māori Ward Councillor Melaina Huaki, resigned effective immediately citing ill health on 7 May, one day after RNZ sent questions about attendance to the council.
In total Huaki missed 17 meetings, including five full council meetings meaning she only attended 66 percent of those she could have.
She also made apologies for lateness five times, partial attendance three times, and departed early three times. None of the absences were explained.
As a “backbencher” councillor – an elected member without any extra responsibilities such as chairing a committee – Huaki was paid a salary of more than $81,000 per year.
“My decision to resign was not taken lightly,” Huaki said in a statement issued by the council last week.
“It has been a huge privilege to represent Kirikiriroa as one of our city’s first Maaori Ward councillors. I worked with staff to assess my options, but I need to prioritise my health at this time.
“This was the right thing to do for me, my whaanau and the city.”
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate thanked Huaki for her contribution to the council and city.
“I’m saddened to see Melaina leave council. She brought a lot of passion and a fresh perspective to the council table, ensuring the unique perspectives of tangata whenua were well-represented in our decision-making processes.
“I fully support that she is putting her health and whaanau first, and wish her all the very best.”
RNZ was unable to contact Huaki.