The four commissioners that will act in place of elected representatives at the Tauranga City Council have been announced.

The commissioners are Anne Tolley, Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood and Shadrach Rolleston. They will start their roles on February 9.

An independent review in November 2020 identified significant governance problems within the council, and in December, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta made the decision to appoint a commission.

Councillor Jako Abrie and Mayor Tenby Powell resigned last year and called for a commission to replace the councillors.

Mahuta says the commission is necessary to put Tauranga in a stronger position for the future.

The council is facing substantial infrastructure and funding challenges that need to be addressed in its 2021-31 Long Term Plan, she says.

'My decision to appoint four commissioners strikes the right balance between the significant decisions that need to be made and the important task ahead in rebuilding the relationship between the council and the Tauranga community.”

Mahuta says in choosing the commissioners she has carefully considered the right skills and experience to deliver the LTP, restore public confidence in the council, recognise the strategic growth challenges, work with iwi and develop a pathway to return the council to an elected membership in October 2022.

Anne Tolley, who will chair the commission, was a Member of Parliament for almost 20 years and was deputy mayor of Napier City Council.

She says she is pleased to be appointed as chair.

'As New Zealand's fifth largest city, it is important that Tauranga is governed effectively. This will be a big challenge for the commission.

'I am looking forward to working with the other commissioners and the people of Tauranga to address the council's problems and return the city to full local democracy as soon as possible.”

Tauranga City Council acting chief executive Christine Jones welcomes the appointment of commissioners.

She says staff are looking forward to working with the commissioners to address the city's pressing, growth-related issues.

'The Executive team has prepared a comprehensive briefing paper to assist commissioners when they take up their new roles on February 9."