Ashburton Mayoral Hopeful Has Lowest Council Attendance

Wednesday, 27 August 2025, 3:50 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Ashburton Mayoral hopeful Rob Mackle has the lowest attendance at council meetings this term.

There have been 59 council meetings since the council first met after the election in October 2022, not including briefings, agency updates, committee meetings and workshops.

Mackle won his seat in a by-election in May 2023, so didn't attend the first 12 meetings of the term. He missed 11 of the 47 meetings since taking office - a 76.6% attendance rating, the lowest of the councillors.

He attended five of his first 14 meetings in 2023, missed six meetings in 2024 - including three while on a leave of absence, and has not missed a meeting in 2025.

Mackle said he had some personal, private matters or illness to deal with that had resulted in his missing meetings and the leave of absence.

“All justified reasons for an absence,” he said.

“I believe the input I’ve had since being on the council has been substantial.

“I haven’t been sitting on my hands.”

He pointed to his push for motivating the conversation on the stockwater exit, campaigning for more funding for roading – especially intersection upgrades, pushing for shingle extraction in the Ashburton River and to find a solution for Lake Hood.

As for the other mayoral hopefuls on the current council, Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan (98.3%) has only missed one meeting and Cr Russell Ellis (96.6) two meetings.

Councillors Carolyn Cameron and Richard Wilson maintain a 100% attendance this term.

Third-term councillor Leen Braam, who has battled with long-covid symptoms which swayed him not to seek a fourth term, recorded 86.4% attendance – missing eight meetings.

Mayor Neil Brown (93.2%) has missed four meetings, third-term councillor Lynette Lovett (96.6%) has missed two and first-term councillor Tony Todd (94.9%) has missed three meetings.

First-term councillor Phill Hooper (98.3%) has also only missed one meeting. Across the 12 meetings in 2025, the only absence was Cr Todd on August 6.

An apology was recorded for all of the councillors' absences across the term. Under the council’s standing orders, the mayor, or acting chair, must invite apologies at the start of each meeting, including apologies for lateness or early departure.

The meeting can accept or decline any apologies.

The acceptance of a member’s apology constitutes a grant of ‘leave of absence’ for the meeting.

Members may be recorded as absent from council business if their absence is for that reason.

Attendance Record Ashburton Council Meetings (59) Cr Carolyn Cameron 59 Cr Richard Wilson 59 Cr Liz McMillan 58 Cr Phill Hooper 58 Cr Russell Ellis 57 Cr Lynett Lovett 57 Cr Tony Todd 56 Mayor Neil Brown 55 Cr Leen Braam 51 Cr Rob Mackle 36 (out of 47)

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