Wellington in a fight for its independence

Wednesday, 16 October 2024

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is in a fight for her council’s independence.

The mayor, striking a calm demeanour, is insisting everything is under control. While she says that, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is circling, searching for cause to “intervene”.

And some of her political opponents are egging him on, saying they want a snap election. Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward councillor Ray Chung seized opportunities on Wednesday to urge Brown for a snap election, confirming he would run against Whanau.

Whether Brown would do that, it was unclear. There has been talk at Parliament about sending in an observer, which ACT’s David Seymour said would be “a good start”.

Brown and Whanau would meet on Thursday morning. He said that meeting would discuss “the Government’s concerns”. Whanau said she “can understand if they have concerns”.

Speaking to Stuff on Wednesday, the mayor insisted the council would meet its deadline to submit a 10-year long term plan. But she said the debate so far has “brought out the worst” from the 16-strong council.

Asked when the long-term plan would be re-formed, after it fell apart last week when other councillors back-tracked on selling shares in Wellington Airport, Whanau replied:

“I think, like at the latest, it will be June next year, because that is what's required. But I really hope to come to a solid plan at least by the end of the year, and give an indication to the public on where we're heading by the end of the week.”

Government intervention looms

When Whanau sits down with Brown on Thursday it will be the first time she has spoken to the local government minister since the Cabinet started musing about intervening in Wellington’s local government.

She said it was “pretty standard” to hear of the Government’s concerns via a third party, and said she had been the one to request Thursday’s meeting.

Brown’s powers of intervention stretch from requiring information, to calling a snap election or effectively ending democracy in the capital, by appointing a commissioner.

Whanau said she was taking the threat of intervention “very seriously”.

“The threshold is very high for an observer or a commissioner. I don't think we've met that threshold. However, I can understand if they have concerns, so that's why I'm working collaboratively with all councillors,” Whanau said.

Brown said he had not received any advice back about whether there was justification to intervene in Wellington City Council. He said he would be discussing whether the council’s decision not to sell airport shares could increase rates.

“There is significant concern in regards to how Wellington City Council is re-litigating its entire long term plan. This is a significant issue for a council which is already increasing rates,” he said.

He would not say, on Wednesday, if he thought the council had met the threshold for intervention.

How Wellington council ended up here

The council agreed four months ago to sell its 34% stake in Wellington Airport. But last week, it voted nine to seven to keep the shares.

The money from that sale would have paid for an emergency fund, of about $500 million, paying down the council’s insurance costs and preparing for a natural disaster.

Its inability to stay the course on that plan marked a clear fissure in the council.

On the airport sale debate, Whanau told Stuff “it really did bring the worst out of some of us”.

“In that meeting, there were quite, quite tense conversations, tense behaviour, a lot of emotions. And I think perhaps we weren't 100% kind to each other,” she said.

Now relationships across the council are tested.

And its other decisions, such as investing in cycleways, have come under scrutiny.

Two controversial cycleway projects, on Molesworth St and Thordon Quay, have resulted in near constant complaints from local bussinesses. Some say they won’t be able to stay operating, while others claim it’s turning their streets into “a ghost town”.

Whanau said these cycleways were both needed and wanted, denying it the council was moving too fast.

“We are the capital city. We really need to invest in our city, to future proof our city for the next generation, like every other city around the world,” she said.

“It is what people want. But that transition period of construction is really, really hard, and I can fully empathize with that … we do end up, unfortunately, with some businesses having to close because it is that difficult. I acknowledge that,” she said.

A council at loggerheads

Speaking to councillors after Wednesday’s urgent meeting, there were mixed messaged.

Chung was calling for a snap election. Others said there was no need for intervention.

Councillor Nureddin Abdurahman said appointing a commissioner to Wellington City Council is “almost a laugh”.

Tim Brown told media there is a “high level of unity amongst the councilors and the mayor”.

But then a key agitator, Chung, told reporters that an observer would not go far enough and he hoped the minister would intervene. Chung said he was rejecting the airport share sale because he thought that would force the council to reduce costs further and he was unhappy that Wednesday’s meeting didn’t outline the exact amount the council planned to cut.

Nicola Young, who has also not been an ally of Whanau, wasn’t keen to talk after the meeting.

While one councillor, Ben McNulty, said there was “laughter” in the room on Wednesday.