John MacDonald: What's so bad about ex-MPs being on local councils?

I’m starting to wonder who isn’t running for mayor in Wellington.  

Former Labour leader Andrew Little is the latest one joining the race to oust current mayor Tory Whanau.  

And, just in case you think so, I’m not endorsing Andrew Little in any way, shape, or form. But I do think having former MPs on local councils is a very good thing.   

Because whether we like it or not, local councils cannot operate in isolation and knowing how things in Wellington work is invaluable.   

Andrew Little isn’t the first ex-MP wanting to get into local government. Former National MP Nick Smith is the mayor of Nelson. Phil Goff was mayor of Auckland. In Christchurch, former Labour politician Lianne Dalziel was elected mayor three times. Maurice Williamson —who was a National MP and minister— is on Auckland Council these days. John Banks. The list goes on.  

And they don’t admit it at the time, but when these ex-MPs stand for their local councils, it’s not just their political experience they're banking on. They also know full well that they’re making the most of apathetic voters who look for a name they know and end up voting for them.   

When it comes to name recognition, I reckon an ex-MP has way more chance of being successful in the job than some of the other people you see milking their name recognition to get elected to their local council.  

People in my game do it. In fact, it seems to me that if media people don’t go on to be marriage and funeral celebrants, they go on to be a local councillor.  

Not that you will ever catch me doing that. Last thing I’d want to do.     

Sportspeople milk their name recognition too.  

I’m not in Tauranga and don’t know all the ins-and-outs, but I think it's pretty safe to say that the reason Mahe Drysdale is the mayor of Tauranga is because of his brilliant rowing career.  

He’s got none of this so-called “business experience” that some people think is essential for someone to be good at running a town or a city. 

He’s got no prior political experience. He’s just a name. Voters obviously thought he was a good Kiwi bloke, he’s done well in his sport, so they voted for him.  

Not that, from what I’ve seen, it’s been all plain sailing for him so far. I’ve seen a few stories with him getting heat for stuff – and that is where people’s lack of political experience shows.  

And why I think it’s a very good thing to have people former MPs on our local councils.   

They’re not perfect —Lianne Dalziel was far from perfect— but they know what they’re getting themselves into.   

They generally don’t set the world on fire, but I don’t care about that. Because, whether we like it or not, local and central government are intertwined. Local government is way more dependent on central government than it would like to admit.  

Especially, when they’re in the schtuck. When they need to get Wellington on their side.  

Which is why having people as mayors and councillors who know exactly how to get the government on side —because they've been there and done that— that’s why it is so beneficial.  

And that’s why I’ll take an ex-politician over an ex-media personality or an ex-sporting hero any day, when it comes to who I want to see on my local council.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Kerry Wood of Mornings podcast from
News Talks, he'd be.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
You know, I'm starting to wonder. I'm starting to wonder
who isn't running for mayor in Wellington. Former Labor leader
Andrew Little. He's the latest one announcing yesterday that he's
joining the race to our current mayor, Tory Fano. And look,
just in case you think, just in case, you might think,
I'm not endorsing Andrew Little in any way, shape or form,

(00:34):
But I actually think it's a brilliant thing having former
MPs on local councils. So Andrew Little what he's saying,
he's saying all the right things about Wellington needing new
leadership and new blood and blah blah blah blah blah.
But I think and this is not about Wellington. This
is about councils and voters everywhere. I think the main
selling point for people like Andrew Little is that they

(00:58):
know how things work, because, whether we like it or not,
your local council can't operate in isolation. And knowing how
things in Wellington work, I reckon that is invaluable, which
is why I think there are huge benefits having xmps
sitting around the council table. Andrew Litley is not the first,
not the first one to think, oh it might be

(01:18):
a councilor now former National MP Nick Smith, he's the
mayor of Nelson and christ Church. Former Labor politician Leanne Delzel,
she was elected mayor three times. Who else Marris Williamson
was a National MP and minister. He's on Auckland Council
these days and they don't admit it at the time,

(01:39):
but when these xmps stand for their local councils, it's
not just their political experience that they're banking on. They
also know, don't know full well that they're making the
most of apathetic voters who look for a name they
know and end up picking them or will go for them.
But just because you recognize someone's name because they used
to be in parliament, does that mean they're going to

(02:00):
be any good on your local council? Well, I reckon,
I reckon when it comes to xmps, Yes they are.
I think an XMP has way more chance of being
successful in the job than some of the other people
you see milking name recognition to get themselves elected to
their local council like who, well people are my game?

(02:21):
You know. It seems to me that if media people
don't go on to be marriage or funeral celebrants, they
go on to be a local councilor that's what happens
where we are in Canterbury, and it happens because media
people have a name that people recognize and so they
get the votes. Undoubtedly the ex media person who got
into local government and who most people around the country

(02:44):
would know now would be Bob Parker. Not that you'll
ever catch me doing this, all right, never, I will
never run for council, promise last thing I want to do.
How else do it? Other than media people, sports people
they milk their name recognition too. Now I accept accept
I'm not in Tarrunna and so I don't know all
the ins and outs, but I think it's pre he'sa

(03:06):
have to say. Isn't it that the reason Marhi Drysdale
is the mayor of Toning it is because of his
brilliant rowing career. He's got none of this so called
business experience that some people seem to think is essential
for someone to be good at running a town or
a city. He's got no prior political experience. He's just
a name. Yeah, I vote as obviously thought Aloys a

(03:27):
good keep you be like, yeah, I like watching him
at the Olympics. He's done well in his sport and
I will vote for him. Not that from what I've
seen so far, it's been all plain sailing for him.
I've seen a few stories with him getting heat for stuff,
and that I think is where people's lack of political

(03:47):
experience shows and why I think it's a very good
thing to have people like Andrew Little and Nick Smith
and lean Delzell and Morris Williamson on your local councils.
Are They're not perfect. Leanne delzel she was far from perfect,
but they know what they're getting there, getting themselves into,
and they generally don't set the world on fire. But

(04:09):
I don't care about that because for me, when I'm
voting for for a mayor, especially and maybe this is
something to do with the fact that we've been through
the earthquakes where we are, but when the local elections
come around, I look at all the candidates and I
ask myself, who would I want running the shop if
there was a disaster or a crisis, And for me,

(04:30):
someone with prior. Political experience wins hands down, because whether
we like it or not, local and central government are intertwined.
You know, local government is way more dependent on central
government than it would like to admit. You know, they
will think, oh, we're independent, local government is ill and die,
our hands off us. But you know, especially when they're

(04:53):
in the Stook, councils are really dependent on central government
and they need to get Wellington on their side and
keep Wellington on their side. Which is why having people
as mayors and counts of who know exactly how to
get the government on side because they've been there and
done that. That's why it's so beneficial. And that's why

(05:15):
I'll take an ex politician over an ex media personality
or an ex sporting hero any day when it comes
to who I want to see on my local council.
For me, political experience beats name recognition hands down.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
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