Face of the Day

Tense exchanges were had at a South Waikato District Council meeting after mayor Gary Petley tabled a reshuffle of the council’s committees.

During Wednesday’s meeting, councillors Sandra Wallace, Kerry Purdy and Marie Farrell questioned Petley on the fairness of the reshuffle to female councillors.

Farrell asked the mayor what he would say to young women in the community watching council.

“How would you encourage them when during this term, despite our membership being 50 percent female, there’s not one female committee chair?” she asked.

Farrell said the reshuffle increased the number of committees and yet there were still no females appointed to the position of committee chairperson.

“The majority of female councillors have been demoted through this reshuffle,” she said.

Petley said he made the decision about the committee structure on what he believed was the best way forward for the council.

“If you believe that's a negative reflection on the way I’m doing my job then I’m prepared to live with that,” Petley said.

RNZ