Of the councillors stood down from Tauranga City Council a year ago, only three have plans to run again should elections take place in October.

It comes as a debate churns in Tauranga over this year's local elections, with some regional figures fearing the work of Commissioners could be undone by the return to power of elected officials.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced the appointment of the commission in December 2020, in response to what she deemed significant governance problems from elected officials.

When that commission, made up of chair Anne Tolley, Stephen Selwood, Bill Wasley and Shadrach Rolleston, got to work in February 2021 the eight Councillors still in place became so only in name.

Andrew Hollis, Kelvin Clout and John Robson stood at large, whilst Steve Morris, Dawn Kiddie, Larry Baldock, Bill Grainger and Tina Salisbury represented their respective wards.

Salisbury was also acting Mayor, after Tenby Powell stepped down in November 2020, calling for Government action in the process.

Jako Abrie, representative for Pyes Pa, also called for central intervention when he stood down in October 2020.

Two months later, Heidi Hughes resigned four days after Mahuta announced the commission was to be appointed, in order to avoid a costly by-election.

Powell believes the commission should remain beyond October, whilst the business community has also spoken with praise for the commission. Local ratepayer groups have, however, been critical of the commission.

When asked by SunLive, Mahuta made it clear her intention is for a return to elections in Tauranga, once a commission exit strategy was finalised.

A date for those elections was not given. October is the most likely scenario, but any delay beyond that point could see the next local elections for Tauranga held in 2025.

She did, however, make clear that there is no option to restrict the councillors she replaced with commissioners from running again.

Nanaia Mahuta. Photo: RNZ.

'There is no legislative basis to prevent individuals from standing in a local election beyond those set out in the Local Government Act 2002,” she explains.

'The community of Tauranga will have the opportunity to determine and vote for the candidates they consider will provide the best governance and oversight in the interest of Tauranga.”

However, concerns over elected officials returning to office may be something of a moot point.

Only a handful of the officials who previously made up Tauranga's last elected council are looking to run again in October, with others non-committal and some ruling themselves out completely.

Robson says he's looking to stand but would like to see the proposed representation review thrown out. The current proposal is for single-member wards, Including a Maori ward, involving nine councillors and a Mayor.

Appeals are currently being considered and a final determination on how council will be structured must be made by April 11. If the single-member system is thrown out, Robson plans to stand as an at-large candidate.

Andrew Hollis plans on running again. Photo. Daniel Hines/SunLive/File.

Hollis, who ran for a seat in the Western Bay last year, says he is 'quite likely to run again” and remains a ratepayer in Otumoetai, the ward in which he intends to run.

Baldock says his running is 'possible” and would be for the Tauriko ward.

Others seem less likely.

Clout will consider running but is still awaiting the Commission exit strategy and Mahuta's full plans for October. He is also relishing a new career in real estate.

Morris and Kiddie are also enjoying their current work commitments. Both stopped short of ruling out a return to Council but seem content with their current situations.

Salisbury says she is not able to comment at present as she was not aware of any formal decisions about October's election process.

Heidi Hughes has no interest in running again. File Image.

Hughes replied with a frank, and rather upbeat, 'no” when asked by SunLive if she would be running again whilst Grainger also has no plans to return to local politics and did not wish to comment any further.

Abrie was approached for comment.