Embattled Hamilton city councillors are standing firm against calls for their sacking in the wake of the V8s debacle.

During a two-hour crisis meeting yesterday on the ninth floor of the council's tower block headquarters, they chose a delegation to front up on Monday to Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.

During the at-times angry meeting, the councillors prepared their defence ahead of Monday's "please explain" meeting with Mr Hide.

His reaction to a damning V8s audit and former mayor Margaret Evans' call to sack ten councillors in favour of Mayor Julie Hardaker's appointment as temporary commissioner is expected soon afterwards.

Despite unprecedented pressure from ratepayers, interest groups and former city politicians, no councillors are making any move to step down.

Ms Hardaker, councillor and former MP Martin Gallagher and city chief executive Barry Harris will arrive in Wellington with instructions from the council to argue that it is already taking action on its shortcomings.

Ms Hardaker was questioned yesterday by councillors suspicious about her involvement in Ms Evans' demands for councillors' heads.

Ms Evans is regarded as having supported Ms Hardaker during her election campaign, but councillor Dave Macpherson said Ms Hardaker had assured them she had no part in Ms Evans' demands to the minister.

Mr Macpherson said Ms Evans "plays politics every chance she gets" and he did not expect Mr Hide to heed her call for him to use the crisis to make a dramatic departing gesture, following her call for "a powerful and historic final shot, adding to your significant local government legacy."

It was originally intended that only Ms Hardaker attend the Wellington meeting, but Mr Macpherson said councillors believed it was more appropriate that councillors and management also be represented as a "united voice".

Ms Hardaker has not responded to repeated requests for comment on yesterday's meeting.

The V8 debacle has also made for some unusual political bedmates as councillors unite to try to save their jobs.

Councillor Ewan Wilson said Ms Evans' call for the minister to sack councillors was unjustified, and "rich" given her own sacking from Waikato District Health Board by Health Minister Annette King in 2000.

That followed a bungled computer project that wasted $9 million, ironically amid angry criticism of the board from then-Hamilton West MP Mr Gallagher, whom Ms Evans now wants appointed deputy commissioner.

In a letter to Mr Hide copied to Prime Minister John Key, to whom she has spoken about her request, Ms Evans said in "the interests of democracy" Mr Hide should retain councillors Martin Gallagher and Margaret Forsyth as sub-commissioners or advisers, but immediately sack the remaining 10 members of the council.

Elections could then be held early next year, in time for councillors with a fresh mandate to consider the council's 10-year plan, expected to propose some savage cost-cutting to address the city's pressing financial woes.

Waikato's powerful commercial property lobby earlier asked Hamilton city councillors who believe they are blameless in the V8 street races debacle to step down immediately and allow residents to decide their fate.

Property Council branch president Graham Dwyer this week said the councillors who considered themselves without blame should resign and the council should hold by-elections early next year for their seats.

The Waikato Times has received a torrent of letters criticising the council and its management over the city's hosting of the V8s, which will have cost ratepayers almost $39 million once the final race finishes next year.

A spokesperson for Mr Hide said he would answer questions after the meeting. daniel.adams@waikatotimes.co.nz