Who will be the Crown Observer for Wellington City Council?

Newstalk ZB presenter Nick Mills suggested former Australian High Commissioner and former minister Annette King might be suitable for the job, but said she was apparently not keen. Mills also floated Peter Dunn as a possible candidate.

Dunn said he was not offered the job and would not speculate on whether he was interested.

“Obviously this is a financial management issue and it requires someone who is highly qualified in this area and has experience in this area.

“The individual will also need to have some understanding of the wider political environment, although I think trying to solve a council’s political problem may not be within the capabilities of one individual.”

Dunn said any candidate would also need time to do so.

“I suspect this will be an endless task.”

Fran Wilde, who is also a former minister, said she was not approached and was not interested in the role.

She agreed with Dunn: A supervisor needs to understand how local government operates and stay on top of the financials.

“Coming into the cold without any knowledge will be quite difficult. They don’t have to be former local government officials, they just need to have some understanding.”

Wilde considered government intervention a welcome step.

“This may reassure the council, which needs a settlement.”

Anne Tolley has just completed more than three years as chair of Tauranga City Council’s oversight panel.

However, she does not intend to solve the problems of another council.

“No, I’m retired,” she said when asked if she would be interested in a role as a Crown monitor in Wellington.

Former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast told Newstalk ZB she didn’t think she had the skills the government was looking for.

“They will be looking for someone who may be an accountant or a financial expert.”

Newstalk ZB presenter Heather du Plessis-Allan told Brown she understood the government needed a “left-hander who can understand books”.

She offered a list of potential candidates including Wilde, Dunn, as well as former Pharmac chairman and former minister Steve Mahari and former Te Whatu Ora chairman Rob Campbell.

“These are all good names, we appreciate the feedback,” Brown said.

In a letter Brown sent to Wellington mayor Tori Whānau notifying her of the government’s intervention, he said the role of the Crown monitor was to assist the council with its concerns, monitor progress and recommend further action.

“The role of the Crown Monitor is to provide advice and guidance to elected board members collectively and individually on matters of governance, financial strategy and planning.

“The Crown Observer may also provide advice and guidance to the head of the council and senior management on how best to support elected council members.”

Brown emphasized that the observer has no role in decision making.

“The decision makers are the democratically elected mayors and councillors.”

The draft terms of reference say the observer may attend all council and committee meetings, as well as meet individually with the mayor and council members.

They will report monthly to Brown and then provide an interim report in February and then a final report after their term ends.

The supervisor’s term is expected to expire in July unless Brown indicates otherwise. The council will foot the bill for the observer’s fee.

Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter with a special interest in local government, transport and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.