Sam Bennett let the Daily News know he wasn't happy with a decision made by the Mayor.

We picked up the following story from the Daily News from Sam Bennett's NPDC Facebook page.

We find ourselves commmenting a bit these days about all the really big issues affecting the New Plymouth District with local government and central government. We've also recently been dealing with many ratepayers struggling with the very large 20% + rates increases this year.

And then there is this in the local news ?

There were 4 slots in the budget. The Mayor and (current) Deputy Mayor are taking 2 slots, and the rest of the Councillors interested were entered into a blind draw.

Sam Bennett wasn't successful in the draw.

Did he consider paying for himself if he really wants to attend ?

Is it appropriate to be questioning the Mayor's leadership publicly because he missed out ?

Glenn McLean wrote in the Taranaki Daily News on September 9, 2026 • 12:00pm

Councillor vents his anger at NP mayor’s selection process for LGNZ conference

New Plymouth district councillor Sam Bennett is upset he has not been selected to attend the annual LGNZ conference.

The working relationship between New Plymouth mayor Max Brough and councillor Sam Bennett has been further strained over a selection process to decide who represents council at the annual Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) conference.

A series of emails between Brough, Bennett and senior council staff was sent to the Taranaki Daily News after the mayor used a “blind draw” to select who would attend the conference in Rotorua in October.

Bennett had been campaigning to attend the conference for months but missed out in the draw in favour of councillors Dinnie Moeahu and Damon Fox, who would accompany Brough and deputy mayor Moira George.

Aside from the fact the mayor used a blind draw to make the selection, Bennett became infuriated to learn Fox would be attending given the first-term councillor had voted to withdraw council’s membership of LGNZ in March.

New Plymouth District councillor Damon Fox will attend the conference despite voting to leave the national body.

Fox’s reasoning was he believed council’s voice would not be heard through LGNZ’s submissions to Government.

“How does that work and makes sense and how is that a wise investment of ratepayer money Mayor Max?,” Bennett asked in one email.

“My TRUST in your leadership and judgement, indeed this current regime, is already at rock bottom and this outcome just reaffirms to me that you are sadly out of your depth Mayor Max and gaining any TRUST is along [sic] way off for me.”

Brough had earlier sent Bennett an email explaining the rationale behind the selection process and the decision to limit the number of councillors attending to save costs after four councillors put their name forward to attend.

He said he wanted to “ensure fairness and independence” so chose to undertake a blind draw for the spots that were available.

“I trust you accept the outcome as fair and equitable.”

New Plymouth mayor Max Brough used a blind draw to select the councillor to attend the conference.

Brough also pointed out that if a decline or apology was belatedly offered he was “more than happy” to revisit attendees.

Earlier emails showed Bennett had applied to attend the annual conference for seven straight years yet had only been selected twice.

As “a long-time staunch advocate” for LGNZ “it pains me to miss the cut” once again, Bennett said.

“I just can’t believe it.”

Brough responded to questions by the Taranaki Daily News about the selection process by saying everyone was entitled to their own viewpoint.