Wellington City Council observer named as Lindsay McKenzie

Monday, 11 November 2024

Lindsay McKenzie, when he was chief executive of Tasman District Council.

The man appointed by Simeon Brown to keep an eye on the Wellington City Council hasn’t taken a deep dive into the council’s problems yet, but he’s confident he can help the cash-strapped council get its long-term plan over the line.

Lindsay McKenzie, the former chief executive of Tasman District Council and Gisborne District Council, will begin his term on Wednesday.

He told The Post he was surprised and honoured to learn Cabinet had approved his appointment to the role of Crown observer.

“I'm in a position where I can commit the time and energy to support the council and the community, to get its amended [long-term plan] over the line before the end of July next year.”

Speaking about his local government experience, McKenzie said it was an advantage to have worked across three regional councils, as well as having provided support to Christchurch City Council over the end of the last term.

“What I would say is I think miles on the clock actually matter in these sorts of situations.”

When asked if he had researched Wellington City Council ahead of his appointment, McKenzie said no.

No love lost: Wellington mayor Tory Whanau recently asked Local Government Minister Simeon Brown to get a move-on with appointing a Crown observer.

“I’m aware through media coverage of the challenges that the council and the community have faced. I've tried to keep my mind and head clear ahead of the briefings that are coming up over the next couple of weeks.”

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said on Monday that McKenzie was experienced in local government.

“When Invercargill City Council was facing governance issues, Mr McKenzie was called upon as an external appointee to support its governance performance improvement programme,” Brown said.

“He also has strong financial acumen, which is reflected in his current appointment as an Independent Member of the Nelson City Council Audit, Risk and Finance Committee.

“Mr McKenzie will provide the support and advice necessary to assist the council as it delivers an amended Long-Term Plan that works for the city, its ratepayers, and communities.”

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

Following a list of council spats ‒ the most significant one being a vote to retain its 34% stake in Wellington Airport, meaning the council now needs to amend its long-term plan ‒ Brown on October 22 announced he was putting a Crown observer in to keep an eye on the council.

The move came after calls for Crown intervention, including from some city councillors, and was a step lighter than his next option, which was firing all councillors and appointing a commissioner to run the council. That, though, remains a possibility.

Now, 20 days later, and a week after mayor Tory Whanau urged Brown to get a move-on as deadlines loomed, Brown has named who he is appointing.

The rush from the mayor is because the need to re-write the long-term plan has to be done fast, with that and a new annual plan adopted before June 30. Brown’s office would only last week say an observer would be found “shortly”.

Whanau’s first deadline was getting the council to decide what it keeps and what it loses from its long-term plan by November 21. She had hoped to have an observer in place with good time before that. She now has 10 days.

McKenzie’s term as Crown Observer will begin on Wednesday and end on July 31, 2025 or earlier if appropriate.

“Wellington City Council is facing significant challenges in delivering services to its community, while balancing its debt and insurance obligations,” Brown said.

“The decision to appoint a Crown Observer was not one that I took lightly. However, my assessment is that the financial and behavioural challenges facing the council represent a significant problem as set out in Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002.

“I have decided a Crown Observer is necessary to better enable Wellington City Council to address their problems and allow me to monitor their progress in doing so,” he said.

The Taxpayers’ Union policy and public affairs manager James Ross said McKenzie had a big task ahead with his appointment.

While experienced hands coming to “knock heads together” at Wellington City Council would not go amiss, real cultural change was needed.

Ross said officers pulling strings behind the scenes had seen accountability melt away, which he called a “lingering blight” on Wellington’s governing body.

“Weakening democracy further by installing commissioners will only make the issues worse. For Wellington’s sake, a Crown observer can’t be the first step on this slippery slope.”