A casting vote was required to approve a $15,000 tertiary scholarship after warnings from some Dunedin city councillors it fell outside of the council’s "core function".
At yesterday’s civic affairs committee meeting, committee chairman Bill Acklin broke a tie vote after councillors were split on whether to fund an undergraduate scholarship for the University of Otago.
Cr Acklin approved the scholarship, to be awarded at the end of each council term at an annual cost of $5000 for three years.
"I’m very conscious of debt; I’m very conscious of rates increases," Cr Acklin said.
"But to suggest our cost-of-living crisis ... is a reason not to support this is just ridiculous.
"This is $5000 per year to further cement the relationship between the council and the university."
Cr David Benson-Pope led the push to approve the scholarship.
"I think it’s eminently affordable actually, and a useful contribution to academic study in this town," he said.
In 2023, the committee instructed staff to investigate a scholarship as a way to honour former city mayors.
It evolved through debate to become the Dunedin City Council Scholarship.
Mayor Jules Radich said yesterday the sitting mayor could still select the area of study the scholarship was awarded to.
"I would think that myself and the two previous mayors would have each chosen different schools — that adds a point of interest," he said.
"The relative amount of money is very small."
Cr Christine Garey said it was important to foster the "town-gown" relationship — a scholarship could be "life-changing", particularly during a cost-of-living crisis.
Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas disagreed, saying the crisis meant the council had to exercise rigid spending.
"Yes, under the size of our budgets [$15,000 is] not a huge amount for us. It is a huge amount for a student, absolutely — but we need to have that financial discipline."
Cr Jim O’Malley said he felt the council was using ratepayer funds to boost the council’s status and the scholarship would not make any marked difference to students.
Cr Kevin Gilbert said there were other ways the council could strengthen ties with the university.
"It’s not, in my opinion, the core function of the council," he said.
"We do need to be making fiscally challenging decisions and if we’re not going to start somewhere we’re doomed."
Cr Marie Laufiso said the council should be backing students, despite a "broken" education system.
Not to support the scholarship on the basis of the high cost of living was "an excuse not to focus the strategic, long-term wellbeing of rangatahi", she said.
The inaugural Dunedin City Council Scholarship will be awarded in October with funds to be added to the draft nine-year plan budget.
At a glance
To approve the establishment of the Dunedin City Council Scholarship at the University of Otago
For (7): Crs Bill Acklin, David Benson-Pope, Christine Garey, Carmen Houlahan, Marie Laufiso, Steve Walker and Mayor Jules Radich.
Against (7): Crs Sophie Barker, Kevin Gilbert, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Jim O’Malley, Brent Weatherall, Andrew Whiley.
Resolution passed on chairman’s casting vote.
