Vote deals blow to Burke supporters

JOHN BISSET/Timaru Herald

FOUGHT HARD: ECan chairman Sir Kerry Burke is under pressure after a move to have him replaced.

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Sir Kerry Burke is fighting for his political life after losing the first round of a bid to roll him as chairman of Environment Canterbury (ECan).

The controversial chairman of the regional authority and his allies fought hard to get a motion of no confidence in his leadership off the council's agenda yesterday, but lost the fight by six votes to eight at a tense and at times ill-tempered meeting in Timaru.

The loss has set up a showdown vote on September 26, when a motion to replace Burke as chairman will be put.

The rebellion has been led by South Canterbury councillor Mark Oldfield who told yesterday's meeting that Burke lacked leadership and was a poor communicator.

The council has become dysfunctional because of a wide gap between urban and rural factions.

Oldfield said the strain of working with Burke had left him physically and emotionally drained. There were complaints of Burke bullying other councillors and simply going through the motions.

"This is not about petty politics, unitary authorities or water charges ... it's about leadership.

"It saddens me to do this. [But] I'm sick of this and my community is sick of it."

Alec Neill, who narrowly lost the chairmanship race to Burke in October 2007, was among his critics. "This is not about pettiness. The chair must lead by example. The chair must be the ringmaster. There are some business leaders in Canterbury who are baying for blood."

Carole Evans said ECan was an evenly split council and it needed a new leader to heal the rifts.

"We are a non-functioning seven-seven council. Please accept that this is not directed at you, but at all of us."

Deputy chairwoman Jo Kane supported the bid to get the motion of no confidence on the table next month. As deputy chairwoman she felt the lack of confidence in Burke reflected a lack of confidence in her and she should go as well if the next vote went against the existing leadership.

"I feel I have let you down," she said. "I take it on my own head."

She would put her own position up for the vote if Burke was defeated.

She said Oldfield had become increasingly disengaged in recent months.

"I have been saddened by the demise of Cr Oldfield. However, these issues have been around for a long time. He [Oldfield] is a better person than this."

In his defence a tense Burke said communication was a two-way process and he accused his detractors of pettiness.

The best chance for a change of leadership was at the next local body elections, and dumping a chairman during a term would be counterproductive.

"I believe this should be stopped now. I ask you to stem this tide."

Burke loyalist Bob Kirk said the even division on the council reflected the urban-rural divide in Canterbury and was not a good reason to ditch the chairman.

All councillors took a turn at the marathon meeting to put their views.

- © Fairfax NZ News