Wellington mayor Tory Whanau: ‘We could have done better’

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Councillors Diane Calvert and Ray Chung react to news the Government is appointing a Crown observer to the Wellington City Council.

From behind a battalion of microphones, mayor Tory Whanau was putting on a brave face after the Government opted to appoint a Crown observer to Wellington City Council.

Speaking in her office above her beloved Golden Mile ‒ an ambitious but controversial plan to transform the CBD ‒ a quietly composed Whanau said the intervention by Local Government Minister Simeon Brown could be a “good thing” and “might be useful”.

If not a clear cry for help, there was an acceptance Wellington needed it.

Any rage or hurt at a Government invasion of her democratic territory was contained to mild references to “a lot of punching down”, “political theatre” and “media attention”.

Tory Whanau addresses the Government’s installation of an observer into the Wellington City Council.

“We need assistance, not punching down,” she said.

“I've seen some headlines of coalition partners, using quite emotive language,” Whanau said. “I will say the local government minister has been very cordial and polite. Our conversations have been heartening for me.

“I'm being quite genuine when I say I'm finding him very cordial to deal with. I see no bad outcomes coming from this. I just see this as a positive way forward.”

Not a failure of her leadership, then?

Tory Whanau speaks to journalists in her office.

“No, it has been admittedly a tough couple of years, and I certainly won't deny that, but I think as a collective, we could have done a lot better.”

Would she resign as mayor, given that the move could be seen as a political slap over her leadership of a fractured council?

'No, absolutely not, not even close,” she said.

As a collective, WCC could do a lot better, after the decision not to sell airport shares divided councillors and forced the council’s long term plan back to the drawing board.

Winston Peters: Wellington is being “destroyed”.

It bought out 'worst out of us in terms of our behaviour', Whanau said.

She had seen a more positive and collaborative approach over the last two weeks and was heartened that councillors wished to move forward, she said.

“Let's just accept this.

“Let's work collaboratively with the observer as well as the minister. Let's be fully transparent, because … we're here to deliver the best outcomes for Wellington City, and I think this intervention could be a positive part of that.

“Things got pretty tense a couple of weeks ago, but what I've seen is a commitment for all of us to move forward, to deliver the best long term plan amendment and the best outcomes for Wellington City.”

Brown earlier said the observer was being appointed due to a “significant problem” at the council.

Among the problems were the council’s “re-litigating” of its long-term plan, its financial management of its water infrastructure, and a lack of confidence these issues could be resolved “based on the behaviour of the council”.

The observer would monitor and assist the council, but Brown said he had “no intention for this Government to be making decisions on behalf of Wellington”.

Outside, ACT local government spokesperson Cameron Luxton said “the council is an absolute shambles”, while NZ First leader Winston Peters said the city was “being destroyed”.

Also outside, the view from the council offices was distinctly unshambolic, and abjectly undestroyed: a sparkling harbour, blue sky and ‒ in the distance ‒ sunbathers at Oriental Bay.

Wellington on a good day. You can’t beat it.