It's been nearly two years since four commissioners replaced Tauranga City's elected mayor and councillors. So how has our city fared during this time?

Commissioners Anne Tolley, Bill Wasley, Stephen Selwood, Shadrach Rolleston took the city's reins on February 9, 2021, following former Mayor Tenby Powell's resignation.

In a previous comment Tenby stated he felt that the city was in good hands. 'Tauranga is 20 years behind in infrastructure, housing and social amenity and, with our newly-appointed commissioners, I feel assured we are in strategic and pragmatic hands.”

To mark the Commissioners' two-year milestone in charge of our city, The Sun reporter Georgia Minkhorst hit Tauranga Crossing to ask locals whether they think Tauranga has progressed under their leadership.

A good job

'I think they've done a good job,” says Brian Gore, who has lived here for two-and-a-half years. 'From what I hear there was a group of councillors before whose focus was on selling themselves on not increasing the rates. What they didn't say was: ‘We won't increase progress,', so the commissioners have had the opportunity to change that.”

More angst

'I think it's caused more angst than anything else,” says Pyes Pa local Kristina Semple. 'I mean we're paying for a bus service that nobody goes on.” Kristina adds: 'I'm a bit sick of the bike lanes, bus lanes. We need to concentrate on people. You go to town and there's nowhere to park now and you pay through the nose for it.”

Kristina Semple.

A shambles

CBD worker Rachael Grimstrup believes the city has progressed in ways but thinks there's room for significant growth. 'It's felt like a bit of a shambles for the last couple of years to be honest,” says Rachael.

'There's a lot of development and infrastructure that could be dealt with a lot better. I feel like all our roads and that type of thing is horrendous.”

Rachael Grimstrup.

Doing alright

Fred Dickison, who was shopping with his wife, says: 'I mean we've been in Tauranga for a long time but I think she's [Anne Tolley] doing all right for what they're doing. Everything takes such a long time to do, like the roadworks.”

Fred Dickison.

The commissioner's appointment was initially meant to conclude in October 2022.

However, the commissioners' job tenure was extended until July 2024 by former Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, who set that timeframe for Tauranga City Council's next Local Body Election.

So, with under 18 months to go until Tauranga City residents return to the polls to vote in new representatives, The Sun also asked locals what type of leader they want going ahead?

'Someone with a bit of gumption, a go-getter who wants to do something for Tauranga – not just to make themselves look good,' says Kristina.

Rachael is looking for a leader with drive and tenacity. 'It's about having a really clear vision and purpose, and listening to what the majority of your region is saying.”

Brian adds: 'Somebody who can correlate with Māori as well and take everybody on board with them”.