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

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has accused government ministers of “punching” by criticizing Wellington City Council, but they say it’s just a fact that the council needs help.
Photo: RNZ/Samuel Rillstone

Government ministers have backtracked after Wellington’s mayor accused them of “punching” recent criticism of his council.

The Coalition government yesterday announced plans to appoint a Crown observer to Wellington City Council, after a series of ministers described it as a “mess”, “a mess” and a hot bed of “meddling bureaucracy”.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau took aim at the use of emotive language by coalition partners, saying “we need help, not repression”).

ACT party leader David Seymour disputed the mayor’s characterization of his criticism.

“Frankly, our interest is the taxpayers and citizens of Wellington who have been subjected to a series of bad decisions,” Seymour said.

“This is a series of bad decisions. This is not a criticism of the people. It 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 town used to be like and what a mess it is now, then you’re walking around with your eyes closed.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis – one of the first to call the council “a mess” – offered a new description on Wednesday afternoon: “Temporarily challenged”.

She also made the suggestion: “Fundamentally good, but with fluctuations”.

Willis said he simply disagreed that ministers were cracking down.

“I don’t see it that way. I see it as Wellingtonians crying out for intervention. I think a large number of Wellingtonians have been frustrated and upset with what’s happening in their council and as a government we have an obligation to listen.”

Brown responds to criticism

Critics of the government’s move – including law professor Dean Knight – described the government’s intervention as “overkill” and highlighted that many councils have similar problems to Wellington’s.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown told reporters that Wellington was unique because of its “unusual decision” to reverse “such a significant part” of its Long Term Plan, requiring it to be completely rewritten.

“This is very different from what you see on a lot of other boards.”

Brown also cited other reasons behind the intervention in Wellington, including “behavioral issues” and the council’s debt-to-revenue split to fund infrastructure.

“Today I am Minister of Local Government. I am focused on the situation at hand. I received advice and followed it.”

Brown said some people have come forward to be observers, but he is still awaiting advice from the Department of Home Affairs.

“Obviously it’s important work, particularly around the council’s finances, but there is also an important role in ensuring the council has an independent flow of advice around some of the important decisions they are making.”