The president of Local Government New Zealand has taken aim at a Tauranga ratepayer organisation over their 'attack advertising” style of social media content.

However, the group say those offended by the content should find a sense of humour and they are more concerned with a return to democracy in Tauranga.

The Tauranga Ratepayers Alliance launched in May of last year. This was in direct response to the appointment of a commission to take over the governance of Tauranga City Council.

Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta appointed the four-person commission, who took control last February, after an independent review found significant governance issues among council members.

Four of those elected Council members, Andrew Hollis, Dawn Kiddie, Kelvin Clout and Steve Morris, were founding members.

Of the elected-Councillors who formed part of the original steering group, only Andrew Hollis remains. Kelvin Clout, Dawn Kiddie and Steve Morris have informed SunLive they are no longer active members of the steering group.

However, LGNZ president Stuart Crosby, also a former Tauranga Mayor, is still disappointed.

Local Government New Zealand president Stuart Crosby. File Image. SunLive.

'It is clear that a small number of former councillors are part of the attack advertising,” says Crosby. 'Either generally or by support and association.”

The TRA have been staunch critics of the commission, especially over rate rises and remuneration costs. That criticism has stretched into content on their Facebook page.

But some of their tactics have drawn heavy criticism from LGNZ president Crosby. He labels the TRA's social media activity as 'attack advertising” whilst also comparing this style of politics to fast food.

'It's cheap and of little substance,” Crosby explains.

'Attack advertising is designed to wage a personal attack against a person or a party in order to highlight an issue and attract support for a counter position.

'Some may say that this is all part of the tool box of political persuasion, which has been exacerbated by the advent of social media, but it is not a technique that either I or LGNZ support.”

However, TRA spokesperson Michael O'Neill suggests the posts are supposed to be light-hearted in nature to 'entertain” the group's 2000 followers.

'If some of those in powerful positions take offence, well, they just need to find a sense of humour and not think of themselves too highly,” says O'Neill.

'Most importantly, they need to remember that being able to laugh at ourselves is part of what makes our country great.

'The state of democracy, or lack thereof, in Tauranga is atrocious and if you didn't laugh, you'd cry.”

The TRA Facebook page contains several references to democracy in Tauranga being comparable to the current situation in Hong Kong - where pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned and news outlets critical of Beijing have been forced into closure.

TRA spokesperson O'Neill doubles down on the comparison.

'The situation in Tauranga is worse than Hong Kong,” he says. 'At least in Hong Kong they had some form of an election, even if the candidates were selected by Beijing.”

Another TRA social media post, from June last year, compares the current commission, consisting of chair Anne Tolley, Stephen Selwood, Shadrach Rolleston and Bill Wasley, to former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The rule of North Korea by the Kim family has been linked to systematic and widespread human rights violations - some of which the United Nations has found constitute crimes against humanity.

With that in mind, LGNZ president Crosby feels a line has been crossed.

'The use of these comparisons is deliberately exaggerated to make a point,” says Crosby.

'It is generally an attack on the person and not a rational evidence-based counter position.”

The commissioners say they do not feel it would be appropriate to comment.

But they are not the only target.

Minister Mahuta is a regular attractor for media posts on the TRA Facebook page. Her image features on at least 30 photos posted in the group. This includes several memes, including one calling her the 'water thief” and another depicting her as a criminal in Court.

Mahuta did not respond directly to the Facebook posts when approached by SunLive. Instead, she reiterates her satisfaction with the work of the commission since their appointment to TCC and her commitment to a return to elections in the city.

Crosby, however, is disappointed at the way the Minister has been targeted.

'I am saddened by what I am seeing,” says Crosby. 'People are entitled to express their views, and forcefully if they wish, but some are crossing the line of what New Zealanders would expect in our politics.

'It is also sad to see people in politics being defined by their identity rather than what their message is.”

O'Neill explains that Mahuta's decision to cancel elections and appoint an unelected commission naturally makes her a target for criticism.

'She could have dismissed the Council and had a fresh election for all positions,” says O'Neill.

"That would have been our preference, and the preference of our members, because Tauranga doesn't belong to Nanaia Mahuta, Anne Tolley, and certainly not Scott Adams. The democratic destiny of Tauranga belongs to local ratepayers, end of.”

Scott Adams is the chairperson of another local lobby group, the Urban Task Force, who have previously called on the Commission to remain instead of a proposed return to elections in October.

Urban Task Force chairperson Stuart Adams. File Image. SunLive.

Adams appears in another Mahuta-led meme, but he says UTF have no interest in commenting on the TRA's Facebook activity or refuting anything they say.

Adams says he does want a return to elections when the city is ready and 'fresh blood” is prepared to run. He hopes that most ratepayers in the city are united in what they want from their Council.

'I hope all ratepayers are largely after the same thing,” says Adams.

'Being a city for all, that we are proud of, that is liveable, an environment for new and existing businesses to thrive, and has a clear vision and bright future.”

Whilst Crosby does voice concern over the TRA's Facebook activity he sees groups such as there's as an important part of community-based democratic process.

'While I may not necessarily agree with their positions and processes, at least they are making an effort to become engaged and participate in the democratic process,” says Crosby.

'I had a great night at the Papamoa Ratepayers and Residents meeting late last year presenting and listening to the concerns over the Government's three waters proposals.”

Crosby even agrees with the TRA on one significant point. He believes elections must return to Tauranga in October.

However, he believes the 'attack politics” that form a part of the TRA's Facebook activity should form no part of that process.

'I would encourage all these conversations to be respectful,” says Crosby.

'With local government elections coming up this October, it is important that we all create an environment to encourage participation both at the candidate and voter level.”