Southland Community Board Chair Ousted Amidst Public Outcry

• Colin Smith was removed as Oreti Community Board Chair by a narrow four to three vote.
• A vocal crowd expressed their dissatisfaction, with shouts of “shame on you” after the vote.
• Despite his removal, Smith received strong support from the community and plans to remain on the board.

Colin Smith, the now-former Chair of the Oreti Community Board, was ousted from his position during a tense meeting held on Monday evening. The meeting, which took place in Winton Memorial Hall, attracted more than 100 people, many of whom were there to support Smith.

The decision to remove Smith was passed by a narrow margin of four votes to three, leading to an immediate and vocal reaction from the crowd. Cries of “shame on you” and boos echoed through the hall as the decision was announced. Some attendees even called for Smith to be renominated on the spot.

The meeting followed a letter sent to the Southland District Council on 23 July, signed by four members of the board—Katie Allan, Dave Diack, Chris Herud, and Tracy Kennedy—who had been in opposition to Smith. Their request for a meeting to remove him was granted, leading to the vote that ultimately ended his tenure as Chair.

The Oreti Community Board has faced significant criticism this year, particularly after a decision in June where it voted against upgrading Winton’s ageing CCTV system, despite community preference. The four members who pushed for Smith’s removal were also among those opposed to the CCTV project.

Support for Smith was evident during the public forum that opened Monday’s meeting. Southland Mayor Rob Scott praised Smith’s leadership, saying, “It’s not an easy role… Colin, from what I’ve seen, has played with a straight bat the whole way through. He’s always had the community interests at heart.” Councillor Darren Frazer echoed these sentiments, noting that Smith had arrived early to prepare for the meeting, a gesture that highlighted his commitment to the community. Councillor Margie Ruddenklau added that removing Smith would mean losing not just a chairperson, but also “a true advocate for our community.”

Despite his disappointment with the outcome, Smith expressed his gratitude to the community for their support and confirmed that he would continue to serve as a board member. Following his removal, Katie Allan was elected as the new Chair by the same four to three margin, defeating current deputy Philip Dobson.