Photo: Ruth Hill/RNZ
An eleventh-hour attempt by three Wellington City councillors to stall the sale of its airport shares has failed to get off the ground during the final vote on the capital's long-term plan.
At a fiery council debate this morning, councillor Nikau Wi Neera attempted to table an amendment, "reviewing the balance sheet challenges of council with full investigation of retaining council ownership of its holding in Wellington International Airport Ltd".
The public gallery was packed with supporters, many holding signs exhorting councillors to stop the sale.
Tory Whanau Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
However, after consulting with council officials, mayor Tory Whanau ruled out a vote on the amendment, saying it would breach standing orders because it went against a decision that had already been made by its delegated committee, the Long-term Plan Finance and Performance Committee, on Wednesday.
The council had received more than 4000 public submission during consultation and only 19 percent were opposed to the sale, she said.
"You don't have to agree - that's your democratic right - but I reject any allegation that the process has been unfair and undemocratic."
The mayor said there was no intention to use the airport shares to pay down debt but instead it would be used to create an investment fund.
She said she was "proud" of the Long Term Plan, which would prioritise $1.8 billion of water infrastructure, build bus and cycle lanes, transform waste management and invest in social housing.
Deputy mayor Laurie Foon, who seconded acceptance of the Long Term Plan, said the process had been "more extensive and more challenging" than she had ever imagined, but she too was proud of the result.
The mayor then opened up discussion for amendments, at which point councillor Ben McNulty attempted to again table the proposal to investigate options for keeping the airport shares.
It was "factually incorrect" to say alternative options had been fully investigated, as had been revealed by legal advice to the council he only obtained on Friday, he said.
However, mayor Whanau intervened to rule out a vote on the amendment, saying it would negate a motion carried by a delegated committee.
Councillor Wi Neera argued they were asking for "a future decision", not to overturn a previous one.
However, the mayor said her decision was final.
"This is democracy," she said above derisive laughter from the public gallery.
Her ruling against putting it to the vote was in turn challenged, resulting in a 50/50 split in the 16-member council.
However, that did not meet the required 75 percent threshold.