Councillor Jill Day calls for Local Government New Zealand to conduct independent review into Wellington City Council
Thursday, 25 February 2021
Wellington City councillor Jill Day has called for Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to conduct or commission the independent review into the council’s governance.
Mayor Andy Foster announced on Wednesday he had called for a review following ongoing public and private disagreements among some councillors, and leaking of information to media.
Foster said he would be appointing the reviewer and setting the terms of reference.
Day emailed Foster and other councillors on Thursday morning calling for LGNZ to undertake or commission the review instead.
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“I think that given you are trying to carry out an independent review, we should ask LGNZ to undertake or commission the review,” Day said.
“I am mindful that minister of local government encouraged us to use our professional entities, which refers us to groups like LGNZ.”
Foster said on Wednesday he would reveal more details of the review shortly.
He told seven councillors in a private meeting on Wednesday morning of his plans to announce the review, before telling all councillors at the beginning of a council meeting.
Day was one of the councillors not invited to the private discussion.
“I have heard your public comments that you do not intend to involve all councillors in the decision about who conducts, and what is involved in, the governance review,” Day’s email said.
“I think that it is unlikely that this approach will lead to the kind of improvement that the city needs to see in our governance.”