Kett returns to council but won't vote on rates
“I never considered it, I want to see my term out, and the way I’m feeling at the moment, yes, I am going to see it through.”
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Peter Kett has returned to the Invercargill City Council for the first time in six months, although he says he is struggling to view submissions and won’t vote in May on the looming rate rise.
The long-time councillor hasn’t been involved in council duties since October because of health issues, but on Tuesday returned to attend a council meeting.
Kett said he required surgery on a knee problem in October, but there were “complications”. It has prompted further surgeries.
He has also been dealing with eye issues, which have restricted his ability to read council material.
Kett initially planned to return to council meetings in December, but that was delayed because of his ongoing health issues.
While Kett attended a council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, he opted not to attend a public submission hearing on the council’s Annual Plan held earlier in the day, or the hearings on Wednesday.
Kett was still awaiting eye surgery and had been advised not to look at computers, which he said ruled him out of attending any council meetings via online options.
Kett said he won’t take part in the vote when it comes to decisions on the council’s 2025-26 Annual Plan, which includes the setting of rates.
“I’ve got to be upfront, I haven’t read any submissions, and I won’t. So, I won’t be able to vote,” Kett told The Tribune.
Kett said he has never considered resigning from the council, but he conceded he thought he would be back working at the council before now.
“No, I didn’t think of [resigning] because I thought I would be back straight away. Then I thought I would be back after the second [knee] operation, but they had to open it up again.
“I never considered it; I want to see my term out. The way I’m feeling at the moment - yes, I am going to see it through.”
The current council term will come to an end at the October election. Kett does not intend to stand again.