Capital in crisis: Are Wellington's problems so bad the Government needs to step in?

Thursday, 19 September 2024

Wellington City councillor Diane Calvert wants the Government to step in and take an active role in monitoring the council.

Some Wellington City councillors think the Government needs to step in and actively monitor their council.

The council will likely need to reconsider its long term plan, as it looks increasingly unlikely that it will be able to sell shares in Wellington Airport.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says he’s keeping watch from afar.

Tensions are heating up among Wellington City councillors, as the city continues to stare down questions about its own liveability.

The latest political battle has erupted between a small opposition faction of the Wellington City Council, and Mayor Tory Whanau’s majority.

Diane Calvert, who represents the Wharangi/Onslow-Western ward, is calling for Local Government Minister Simeon Brown to send a Crown observer to manage Wellington City Council. Politically, sending an observer to Wellington City Council would be a sign the Government was losing faith in the council’s ability to function.

Wakefield Street, between Victoria and Cuba Street, was once a “thriving little community”.

In a statement, Calvert said the council was not capable of fixing the “fundamental challenges” facing the capital city.

“An independent facilitator, with the right expertise in local government and a clear understanding of Wellington’s challenges, could provide the fresh direction needed,” Calvert said.

She said Brown should use his power to appoint a Crown observer, tasked with bringing together central Government, local governments, and the councillors.

According to The Post, just two of Wellington’s 14 other councillors supported Calvert’s call. She had the support of ward-mate Ray Chung and Takapū Northern Ward councillor Tony Randle.

Calvert used debate about Wellington City Council’s partial ownership of Wellington Airport as justification for calling in an observer. The councillors have been in intense debate, with some switching sides, over whether to sell council shares in the airport.

Proponents of the sale argue it would alleviate pressure to increase rates further.

The council’s long-term plan relied on the shares being sold.

But, as The Post reported, the council is now set to hold an extraordinary meeting in in October to re-vote on the sale.

Appointing a Crown observer is a step below sending in a commissioner to run the council. To do either, the minister would need to prove the democratically elected local government was incapable - or at risk of being incapable - of managing itself.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said he was keeping watch of Wellington City Council, but stopped short of agreeing that a Crown observer was required.

“Councils are elected to make those decisions in relation to their long term plan,” he said.

For Wellington, which would have to re-think funding commitments if the airport share sale was blocked, the council would likely need to re-consider its long-term plan.

However, many councils around the country would also need to reassess their long term plans - which set 10-year pathways for council investment.

During August’s Local Government NZ conference, Brown laid out the Government’s plan for partnering with councils. It called for councils to work with each other to propose regional plans, spanning across council borders. The central Government would then work with those groups of councils to build key infrastructure.