Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale is defending his choice to drive a council car despite predecessors opting out.

Taxpayers’ Union investigations co-ordinator Rhys Hurley believes it sends the wrong signals in financially tight times.

Tauranga City Council said the electric car is so the mayor can perform his work “efficiently and effectively”.

Drysdale said the car is cheap to run and offers good value for money compared to claiming mileage.

The Remuneration Authority allows councils to provide a mayoral vehicle.

It set purchase price limits at $55,000 for petrol or diesel vehicles and $68,500 for electric or hybrid vehicles. Both limits include GST and on-road costs.

The council said the mayor’s vehicle was a Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited, which cost $50,330.43 excluding GST.

There were additional costs, including insurance, paint protection and running costs, that totalled more than $3600 before GST. The total cost, including GST, was $62,000.

Hurley questioned why the mayor, earning nearly $200,000, required a $62,000 council car.

Taxpayers’ Union investigations co-ordinator Rhys Hurley has questioned why Tauranga's mayor needs a council car.

“This is not a question of whether the mayor needs a car, but whether ratepayers hit by a 35.98% rates hike over the last three years should be footing the bill.

“Even having a vehicle is a stark contrast to former Mayor Stuart Crosby, who chose to give up the mayoral car to save ratepayer money.”

Hurley said, in his view, it “sends all the wrong signals” when councils were under cost pressure.

Crosby, Tauranga mayor from 2004 to 2016, told Local Democracy Reporting he decided against having a council vehicle during his time because of it being in the Global Financial Crisis.

Stuart Crosby was Tauranga mayor from 2004 to 2016 but chose not to have a council vehicle during that time.

“I would do the same today.”

He said he used a council fleet car if he ever needed to travel by car.

He has been a Bay of Plenty regional councillor since ending his time as mayor. He has not received a council-funded car in this role.

Greg Brownless, mayor between 2016 and 2019, said he was offered a mayoral car but turned it down.

“Back then, if you opted for a mayoral car, there was a small deduction from your salary, but it still would have cost the council more.”

The next mayor, Tenby Powell, who quit the role in late 2020, said he was offered a mayoral car but took a car allowance.

Drysdale said the council was focused on keeping costs down.

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale only uses a Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited provided by council for work purposes. Photo / Brydie Thompson

“As an electric vehicle, it is very cheap to run and overall represents good value for money compared with using my private car and claiming mileage for when on council business.”

The council said the vehicle was for work purposes only so the mayor could do his job efficiently and effectively.

This included driving to the office and returning home.

“The vehicle is not used for any private use. The mayor has a private car that he uses for private use.”

The council said this was considered a more cost-effective approach than claiming mileage for his vehicle for each council-related trip.

It said council-related travel covered duties associated with the role.

“This includes representing Tauranga at regional and national meetings, meeting with community groups and stakeholders, visiting council facilities and project sites, and attending civic and community events.

“These trips are largely within Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty, with some travel further afield as required for official engagements.”

Local Democracy Reporting asked the council how long Drysdale has had the vehicle; did he use it to drive to and from Cambridge when he was living there, and when did he move to Pāpāmoa?

In response, the council, in a statement, reiterated that the vehicle was provided and used in accordance with the Remuneration Authority’s allowance, and the mayor’s family moved to Pāpāmoa at the start of this year.

The electric vehicle is charged when parked at the council’s offices on Devonport Rd at an EV station that forms part of its electric vehicle charging network.

Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.