Ministers defend Wellington City Council criticism: ‘This is a series of bad decisions’

Wellington Mayor Tory Whānau has accused government ministers of being “punitive” when criticizing Wellington City Council, but they say it is simply a fact the council needs help.
Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Government ministers have hit back after Wellington’s mayor accused them of “attacking” recent criticism of her council.

The Coalition Government yesterday announced plans to appoint a Crown observer to Wellington City Council after a number of ministers described it as a “mess”, a “disarray” and a breeding ground for “interfering bureaucracy”.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Wellington Mayor Tory Whānau criticized coalition partners’ use of emotive language, saying “we need help, not punching.”

ACT Party leader David Seymour disputed the mayor’s assessment of his criticism.

“Frankly, we are concerned with Wellington taxpayers and Wellington citizens who have been the victims of a number of bad decisions,” Seymour said.

“We’re talking about a series of bad decisions. This is not a criticism of people. This is a statement of fact.”

Responding to the mayor’s comments, NZ First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters doubled down.

“If you don’t understand what this city was like before and what a mess it is now, then you walk around it with your eyes closed.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis, one of the first to describe the council as a “shambles”, offered a new description on Wednesday afternoon: “Temporarily challenged”.

She also suggested the following: “Good in principle, but hesitant.”

Willis said she simply did not agree with ministers being harsh.

“I don’t see it that way. I see this as Wellingtonians demanding intervention. “I think a large number of Wellingtonians have been disappointed and upset about what’s happening in their council and as a government we have an obligation to listen.”

Brown avoids criticism

Critics of the government’s actions, including law professor Dean Knight, described the government’s intervention as “over-intervention” and noted that many councils had problems similar to those in Wellington.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown told reporters Wellington was unique in its “unusual decision” to cancel “such a large part” of its long-term plan, requiring it to be completely rewritten.

“It’s very different from what you see on a lot of other boards.”

Brown also cited other reasons for intervention in Wellington, including “behavioral issues” and the council’s debt-to-income ratio for infrastructure funding.

“Today I am the Minister of Local Government. I’m focused on the situation in front of me. I received advice and followed it.”

Brown said some people had put their names forward as observers, but he was still awaiting advice from the Home Office.

“Obviously it is an important job, particularly in relation to the council’s finances, but there is also an important role in ensuring that the council has an independent flow of advice on some of the important decisions that it makes.”