Political career
First term and 2022 mayoral election
Radich served his first term as a councillor on the Dunedin City Council (DCC) between 2019 and 2022. During the 2022 Dunedin mayoral election,he stood as a mayoral candidate on the Team Dunedin electoral ticket. [6] During the election,Radich campaigned on reducing debt levels and restoring local confidence. On 8 October 2022,Radich defeated incumbent Mayor of Dunedin Aaron Hawkins. [6] [7] Following his election as mayor,Radich confirmed several policy positions including launching a review of the George Street revamp,retaining the city's one-way traffic system and investing in infrastructure to deal with stormwater inundation. [8] [9]
In mid October 2022,Radich appointed Sophie Baker as deputy mayor and chair of the Dunedin City Council's new strategy and engagement committee. In addition,he appointed Lee Vandervis,who had been previously overlooked for leadership roles,to the finance and council-controlled organisations committee. Radich retained Jim O'Malley as infrastructure services chairman. In allocating his appointments,Radich stated that his goal was to "create an environment where all councillors' skills and strengths are harnessed and their voices heard,and to lead a united council for the benefit of the city." Senior councillor and former Labour Member of Parliament David Benson-Pope and Labour councillor Steve Walker were not appointed to any committee chair or deputy chair roles. [10] [11]
Three Waters and co-governance
In early November 2022,Radich expressed conditional support for the Government's controversial Three Waters reform programme but advocated more local ownership over water resources and infrastructure. While supporting national water regulation,Radich argued that the administration of water in the Otago and Southland Regions should be done at the regional level rather than through an entity covering the entire South Island. [12] On 9 November,Radich and all DCC councillors with the exception of Vandervis voted to sign an updated agreement with the two local mana whenua (tribal groups) Kati Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnanga ōŌtākou. [13]
In mid-November 2022,Radich attracted media attention after stating there was "no cause for alarm" after around 800 passengers aboard the cruise ship Majestic Princess tested positive for COVID-19. The Majestic Princess had visited several New Zealand locations including Dunedin before returning to Sydney on 13 November 2022. Radich claimed that there was no cause for alarm due to the measures taken by Dunedin health professionals and the high rate of COVID-19 vaccinations in Dunedin. He stated that his "main concern is about whether we can provide enough entertainment for those people on cruise ships." By contrast,University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker described the situation on Majestic Princess as a major outbreak and said that the cruise industry should have done more to limit infections and care for patients. [14]
Pay dispute with Benson Pope and Walker
In December 2022,Radich was locked in a pay dispute with two fellow councillors Benson Pope and Steve Walker. Following his election in October 2022,Radich had proposed a new seven-committee structure with every councillor getting a role as a chair or deputy. Breaking with tradition,Radich had proposed paying councillors serving as chairs and deputy chairs more than councillors without additional responsibilities;with deputy chairs earning NZ$80,442 and other councillors earning NZ$64,353 per annum. Benson Pope and Walker claimed that Radich had offered them roles which he knew they would reject. In response to criticism,Radich rejected claims that his actions were political and claimed that they reflected the difference in work he expected from councillors holding additional responsibilities. In mid-December 2022,the Remuneration Authority rejected Radich's proposal to cut Benson Pope and Walker's salary by 11.7 percent on the grounds that it was unlawful. In mid-December,the DCC considered a revised proposal that would reduce the salaries of the deputy mayor and deputy chair by NZ$2,144 and NZ$2,460 while raising Walker and Benson-Pope's salary to $8430 each,bringing their annual remuneration to $72,783. [15] [16]
Dunedin Hospital
In December 2022,Radich initially supported Te Whatu Ora's (Health New Zealand) cutbacks to operating facilities at the new Dunedin Hospital. [17] By January 2023,Radich had revised his position in the face of opposition from the public and fellow Dunedin City councillors including Benson-Pope to the proposed hospital rebuild cutbacks. Radich argued that opposing Health NZ's proposed hospital cutbacks could help improve public opinion ratings of the Dunedin City Council,which had declined to a record 25 percent low in 2022. [18] In late January,Radich seconded Benson-Pope's motion urging the DCC to contribute NZ$130,400 for a public campaign to support the hospital rebuild project as it was outlined in the final business case. [19] On 31 January,the DCC including Radich voted unanimously to support Benson-Pope's motion to fight changes to the Dunedin Hospital's design. [20]
In early September 2024,Radich criticised a proposal by the Sixth National Government to cut the number of emergency beds and downgrading operating theatres as part of cost-cutting measures,saying that any reduction of facilities and services were contrary to the Government's promises made to Dunedin,Otago and Southland residents. [21] Earlier in June 2024,Health Minister Shane Reti had reiterated the National-led government's commitment to its 2023 election promise of restoring previously cut beds,operating theatres and equipment at the new Dunedin Hospital. [22] On 6 September 2024,Radich and the DCC called on the Government to rebuild Dunedin hospital without clinical cuts. [23]
In mid-September 2024,Radich and New Zealand Nurses' Organisation delegate Linda Smillie met with Health Minister Reti to present a 23,000 strong petition opposing the proposed cuts to the New Dunedin Hospital. [24] On 19 September,Mayor Radich and the Dunedin City Council launched the "Hospital Cuts Hurt" campaign to opposed clinical cuts to the hospital rebuilt including a protest march on 28 September. [25] On 27 September,Radich objected to the Government's announcement that it was exploring ways to scale back the new Dunedin hospital construction. [26] The DCC's Hospital Cuts Hurt campaign attracted the support of the opposition Labour Party,Mayor of Invercargill Nobby Clark and Mayor of Waitaki Gary Kircher. [27] [28] The campaign culminated in a 34,000-strong petition being delivered to Parliament on 5 November 2024. [29]
On 31 January 2025,Radich welcomed Health Minister Simeon Brown's announcement that the Government would build the new Dunedin Hospital on the site of the former Cadbury factory rather than refurbishing the existing hospital. Radich credited the "Hospital Cut Hurts" campaign with forcing the Government to listen to public demands for a new hospital. Radich also thanked the Government for listening to public feedback. [30]
Barry Williams racism controversy
In September 2023,Radich was criticised for his handling of a code of conduct breach involving Barry Williams,the chair of Strath Taieri Community Board. [31] Williams had racially abused a non-white staff member at the Strath Taieri Hotel in Middlemarch following a mistake with a food order. While the Dunedin City Council had wanted Williams to resign from his position,Radich decided not to take further disciplinary action against Williams after the latter apologised,stating during a Radio New Zealand interview that "it happened in a pub,and he [Williams] didn't even remember that it had happened,so it was just a relatively minor thing." [32] In response,Deputy Mayor Sophie Barker and fellow Councillor Jim O'Malley filed a code of conduct complaint against Radich over his handling of William's behaviour. [31] In addition,Barker resigned from her position as Deputy Mayor while remaining a councillor. The DCC also confirmed that it would look at Radich's conduct during the incident. First-term councillor and business owner Cherry Lucas was appointed as Dunedin's deputy mayor. [33]
In mid December 2023,an independent investigator found that Radich had breached the Council's code of conduct and brought the City Council into disrepute over his comments regarding Williams' racist remarks. Radich publicly apologised for his behaviour. In addition,the investigator found that a fellow Councillor Carmen Houlahan had breached the Council's code of conduct by harrying Barker and O'Malley over their complaint against Radich. [34] [35]
Rates
On 12 March 2024,Radich supported a Dunedin City Council (DCC) proposal to raise rates by 17.5% in order to fund the Council's operations and works. He disagreed with budgets cuts and opposed deferring work on water and wastewater infrastructure. Radich said that "pipes and plumbing are out of sight,and the price of maintenance can seem too much. Now that a survey of our network has been completed,it is apparent that extensive expenditure is required." The DCC voted by a margin of 13-1 to adopt draft operating budgets for the purpose of community engagement. The sole dissenter was Councillor Lee Vandervis,who objected to increasing the Council's debt. [36]
In early May 2024,Radich ranked a low +1% in polling agency Curia Research's nationwide poll of New Zealand mayors over the past several months. Radich attributed his low ranking to public dissatisfaction with increasing rates and debt levels in Dunedin,saying "I'm working hard to put Dunedin's finances on a more sustainable path,but it's certainly not fun. The difficult decisions fall to me and the councillors." [37]
Meetings
On 22 May 2024,Radich was criticised by Crs David Benson-Pope and Sophie Barker for not holding regular statutory chief executive appraisal committee. The last such committee meeting was held on 8 September 2023. Radich disputed Benson-Pope and Barkers' criticisms,arguing that the DCC had held regular meetings. [38]
Israel-Palestine conflict
In late May 2024,Radich and a majority of the Dunedin City Council adopted a motion urging the New Zealand government to create special visas for Palestinian refugees by a margin of 14 to one votes in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Radich said that he did not see this motion as "one of aggression or blame. It's one of safety... it's on the side of humanity." [39]
Aurora Energy
In mid March 2024,Radich supported a DCC proposal to consult ratepayers on a proposal to sell the Council-owned power company Aurora Energy in order to pay off the company's forecast debt of NZ$750 million. Radich said that the money would be invested in an investment fund to generate revenue for the DCC. The Council voted by a margin of 13-1 to consult the public on Aurora Energy's sale proposal. [40]
In late September 2024,Radich and a majority of DCC councillors voted in favour of retaining energy company Aurora Energy following strong public opposition to its proposal sale. While describing Aurora as a "cash hungry beast," he described the company as a good long-term investment since the cash it was consuming would increase the company's value and help fund infrastructure building and growth. [41]
On 24 January 2025,Radich unveiled a draft nine-year plan to reduce rates by 6%. This plan involves renewing core infrastructure while removing certain projects and modifying others. In an effort to reduce rates,saving would also be made in response to rising construction,maintenance and insurance costs. [42] In mid February 2025,Radich reiterated the DCC's plans to slow rising debt and to pay off the city's debts within a decade. [43]
