Napier’s deputy mayor says the outgoing executive assistant to Mayor Richard McGrath was a “dedicated servant to the city”.

Vanessa Smith-Glintenkamp has tendered her resignation as McGrath’s executive assistant, and claimed in her resignation letter it was because of McGrath’s “disregard for Treaty principles”, Stuff reported.

It comes after a failed proposal by McGrath to not include mana whenua voices and voting rights in the council’s standing committees for the term.

There were tense scenes at the December 11 council meeting where deputy mayor Sally Crown said the proposal was a “demonstration of gross misjudgment and disrespect”.

Crown told Local Democracy Reporting she had found Smith-Glintenkamp to be a “dedicated servant for the city in her role. I wish her all the best.“

Crown said she and McGrath had worked constructively as councillors together for six years before this term.

“Diversity of experience, thought and opinion are what ensures council is representative of the community,” she said. “I have every confidence that Richard and I will continue to work constructively with each other, to disagree on some things but also agree on others, with steady and open communication between us. No different from the past.”

She said her focus was on how best to serve Napier, especially in the midst of national reform.

Stuff reported that in her resignation letter, Smith-Glintenkamp wrote: “following recent events, I believe my role has become untenable.

“While I understand these are complex issues, my experience has been that, as a councillor and now as mayor, you have chosen to disregard the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi… I cannot continue to work for a person or organisation that holds such values,” she wrote.

McGrath defended his proposal at the council meeting, saying he hadn’t removed anyone and was establishing new committees. “The reason for my decision is to have elected members, who have attended meetings and workshops, making decisions,” McGrath said.

Standing committees are permanent committees established by local authorities to handle specific areas of council business throughout the elected term.

Last triennium, there were two Nga Mānukanuka o te iwi representatives – representing a mana whenua voice – on each of the four standing committees.

This year, there would be two standing committees – the corporate and performance committee and the delivery and regulatory performance committee.

A council spokesperson said Nga Mānukanuka o te iwi representatives were paid a fee of $500 per representative for every meeting they attended.

McGrath was not available for comment.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.