Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws has said the extraordinary meeting called for July 8, which could see chair Marian Hobbs voted out, is “not about Otago water”. 

Michael said the meeting is “for the purpose of removing from the office of Chair, the Hon Marian Hobbs”, and “is not about Otago water, nor the Otago environment, nor the implementation of national water policy.”

“It is grossly unfair to all Otago’s regional councillors that this meeting has been characterised as an attempt to stymie the implementation of national standards or the improvement of Otago’s waterways,” Michael said. 

“There wouldn’t be a councillor around our table who does not regard the improvement of Otago’s environment, especially freshwater, as a palpable priority.”

Otago Regional councillor Michael Laws has stated the extraordinary meeting called for next month, which could see him claim the position of chair, is “not about water”.

Michael also said the “disingenuous representation that this is a ‘farmers versus greenies’ scrap, does the claimants no credit.”

“Every councillor will have their personal view, but the meeting is genuinely about who has the best skill set to lead our strong governance team forward. 

“And who can best draw out the positive qualities of every councillor.

“It is an unusual circumstance, agreed, but this is all about personality and not about policy nor programmes. 

“Nine councillors have indicated that they wish the matter to be formally raised given the decision of the current chair not to step aside.” 

In reply, ORC chair Marian Hobbs offered The Central App “some history”.

“In 2019 before the election the Government asked Judge/Professor Peter Skelton to do a review of Otago’s planning procedures for water,” Marian said. 

“As we took office in October, he told us that our plans were not able to achieve the outcomes needed to meet the national Policy Statements on Freshwater. He advised us what to do.

“In January as a council we voted to send a letter to the minister outlining what we would do  to meet the standards set by Peter Skelton.

“So we passed Plan 7, the plan dealing with the deemed permits. 

“It was not a unanimous vote and some councillors were declared conflicted by the Audit Authority.

“On 26 February we wrote to the Minister explaining that there was a shortage of commissioners to do water hearings in the South Island. This was passed.

“We were due to meet on the 25th March, but this meeting was postponed.”

Marian said, on 26th march, a letter was published in newspapers signed by seven councillors wanting to reverse all the previous water decisions and to delay the ones that were down to be notified at the postponed meeting. 

“That was when I emailed the minister pointing out that I may not be able to deliver on the matters we had said we would do as a council in our letter to him at the end of January. 

“It is that email that was quoted by Federated Farmers when they called for my replacement. 

“The issues were not about behaviour, but about keeping our commitments to central government on improving water quality.”

Otago Regional Council chair Marian Hobbs believes she is being targeted to be replaced due to a fight over national water policy. 

Marian said “some councillors do not understand the difference between a territorial authority and a regional council”. 

“A regional council is bound to enact the National Policy Statements or National Environment Standards set by central government: National or Labour. 

“When a regional council keeps refusing to enact the standards and become grossly divided, central government puts in a Commissioner. 

“This is what the national Government did to Environment Canterbury.”

Marian said two extra councillors have joined the so called “Water Seven” who originally published the letter. 

“I understand that they are tired of the fighting and the stress. 

“From the time of the publication of that letter, which was never shown to the other five councillors, I knew my days would be numbered. 

“Only three weeks ago I was alerted by councillors that there was another attempt to unseat me.” 

Councillor Michael Laws said unseating Marian was a matter of “personality” and “not about water”. 

“People can go back and view the meetings on line and judge whether I am such a horrendous chair,” Marian said. 

“But I would like those who are voting to remove me to be able to explain why to those people who have been looking for improvement in Otago’s water quality issues.” 

Marian hinted a Queenstown and Wanaka based news website “felt forced to pull an article by Dr Riddell” due to external influence, ”and then put it back in”. 

It is believed to have been the opinion piece Dr Mike Riddell shared with various media, which The Central App published in full here.

“There is an interesting story there which points to the leadership of the seven not wanting this framed as about water,” Marian said.