‘Shortly’: Simeon Brown time frame for Wellington observer

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau reacts to plan to have a Crown observer

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is refusing to say when he will get around to appointing an observer to the Wellington City Council other than an unspecified “shortly”.

With a hard deadline looming for the Wellington City Council to decide what it plans to keep and lose from its 10-year plan, mayor Tory Whanau wrote to Brown on Friday asking that he appoint an observer “as soon as practicable”.

Brown was asked on Sunday how soon he planned to appoint an observer, whether he had a person in mind or a short list of potential candidates.

“Officials are now providing me advice on names, and I will be making a decision shortly to ensure Wellington City Council can have this assistance prior to the long-term plan being approved,” he said in an emailed statement.

His office refused to give a more definite time frame on Sunday and refused again on Tuesday. It also refused to say if he had a person in mind or even a short list of candidates.

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau, left, confirmed and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, right, was yet to give a time frame for appointing a Crown observer.

Brown on October 22 confirmed he was appointing an observer, a person to watch over the council as it reworks its long-term plan. An observer was being appointed due to a “significant problem” at the council, he said.

Alleged problems included 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”.

Whanau wrote to Brown on Friday welcoming the observer and highlighting the tight time frames the council was under.

The council has to make the calls on what to keep in its draft long-term plan by November 21, approve a draft budget by December 11, adopt a consultation document by March 13, consult with the community for a month, then approve a long-term plan amendment and annual plan on June 26.

Whanau on Tuesday confirmed she had not been told when an observer would be appointed. She was asked if the first deadline – now just 16 days off – was still looking realistic.