Otago Regional Councillor Michael Laws has hit out at comments he is leading a group of “insurrectionist” councillors in a coup against ORC chair Cr Marian Hobbs over water rights issues. 

Earlier today an opinion piece was published by the Central Otago Environmental Society’s Mike Riddell and Matt Sole. They claim Otago Regional Council insurrectionists seek to defeat national water policy frameworks, which would limit the historic draining of our rivers for private profit. 

“The current upheaval in which chair of the ORC Marian Hobbs is set to be deposed is about one issue, and one issue only,” Mike Riddell and Matt Sole wrote in their opinion piece.

“The insurrectionists, led by Michael Laws, are seeking to defeat national water policy frameworks which would limit the historic draining of our rivers for private profit. 

“Supported by Federated Farmers, the irrigators have formed a ginger group which has captured the hearts and minds of a number of ORC councillors.”

Michael said there is no truth to that claim, and the issues with the chair of the ORC are purely on the basis she is not the right person at the head of the governance team. 

Otago Regional Council chair Cr Marian Hobbs is set to face a vote for her position at an extraordinary meeting called for Wednesday July 8.

Nine out of twelve councillors have called for an extraordinary meeting on July 8 to vote on the chair position.

“It is a complete misrepresentation to suggest that the 8 July meeting to discuss the replacement of the ORC chair, has ANYTHING to do with water rights in specific or the environment in general,” Michael said. 

“To perpetuate such a narrative is to embrace a lie. 

“The issue is completely personal: is Cr Hobbs the best person to chair the governance team and represent the ORC in public forums? 

“Nine out of twelve councillors are suggesting that the answer is No, and that another skillset is urgently required.”

Michael said it is the personal leadership of Cr Hobbs that has solely precipitated this extraordinary meeting. 

“The issue of improving water quality and processing water consents continues unabated, with the clear intent of balancing environmental and economic imperatives - and seeking win-win scenarios and not either/or options. 

“My personal observation is that science must drive every policy decision we make. 

“As the Environment Court recently noted - sometimes science-focused decisions don't meet the rhetoric of activists, or the silly 'farmer v greenie' interpretations of lazy commentators.”

Michael said the nine councillors who signed the letter represent a diverse range of experiences, viewpoints and constituents. 

“Four are resident in Dunedin, one is a declared member of the Labour Party,” he said. 

“Others voted in favour of the contentious water plan changes. 

“These facts do not fit the narrative of Messrs Riddell and Sole, do they? 

“But then not much does, because the reality is that all ORC councillors are determined that science, not dogma, drives our policy decisions. 

“And equally, all are dedicated to improving our waterways and the Otago environment. 

Michael said the reasons Marian may be replaced as chair relate solely to her perceived abilities as a chair. 

“Nothing else,” he said. “A different skill set is required with different personal skills to draw in all the abilities of all our team. 

“To suggest that this is about water is just untrue. And grossly unfair to a disparate group of councillors seeking to do their collective best for Otago.”