Matenga still missing in action
BY KRIS DANDO
Porirua city councillor Hemi Matenga has not attended any council meetings or workshops thus far in 2010, despite saying in December he was "committed" to serving his community and regaining the people's confidence.
Mr Matenga was missing from the February committee and full council meetings, a recent Treaty Partnership Group meeting and a hui with Ngati Toa.
Councillor Euon Murrell, who put a notice of motion to request Mr Matenga's resignation in December, is unhappy about ratepayers' money being paid to the absent Eastern Ward representative. A councillor earns $26,278 a year, so Mr Murrell estimates Mr Matenga has received about $6000 during the past three months but hadn't earned it.
"It just reinforces my view that he should have taken heed of the vote [11-3 in favour of him resigning] and done the decent thing. By not showing up he is showing contempt for the process. I would have thought he should have at least come to the hui and contributed, but he doesn't seem to be interested. No-one's seen him at all."
Allegations of theft were levelled at Mr Matenga in October after money went missing from his former employer Bodyworks. Police did not lay charges after being satisfied he did not intend to steal, but said Mr Matenga complicated matters by lying about what had happened to the money.
In an emailed statement in December, Mr Matenga said he had made "poor judgement" but insisted "I am committed to serving my remaining 10 months and advocating the needs of my community at the council table".
Mr Matenga has phoned in apologies prior to meetings, so Mayor Jenny Brash says "he's obeying the rules". But she is disappointed he has not fulfilled his council duties.
"He assured me he had lots to do before the election, lots of projects and issues to cover. But if he's not turning up to meetings how can he really have any input?"
Kapi-Mana News attempts to reach Mr Matenga for comment last week failed.
Mr Murrell says it would be "an absolute joke" if Mr Matenga stood for re-election in October.
- Kapi-Mana News
