The former deputy mayor of neighbouring Lower Hutt, John Seddon, was employed for the role.

Allegations ensued that his appointment had been a "jack up" by the Labour majority on the city council and his friendship with deputy mayor John Burke.

A group of senior Porirua City Council officers jointly signed a letter during the appointment row saying he wasn't the right man for the job.

Ombudsman Lester Castle was called in and eventually cleared the appointment process as being sufficiently objective.

[2] The election also saw the introduction of a new party to contest control of the council with the emergence of the Rates Reform ticket.