Simeon Brown: Local Government Minister considering 'next steps' for Wellington City Council

The Local Government Minister has little to say about Wellington City Council's fate.

The Government has signalled it's willing to intervene, after labelling the Council's Long Term Plan backtrack a 'shambles'.

Simeon Brown last week asked the Department of Internal Affairs for advice on potential intervention.

Brown says he's now reviewing it and is considering it.

"It's a serious issue, but as I've said, I've received the advice and I'm now considering it." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now our work has started on the first new road
of national significance. It's the Hawks Bay Expressway being expanded
into a four lane highway.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Transport Minister is Simeon Browne A Simn.

Speaker 3 (00:09):
How are you.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
I'm very well, thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Before we get to the roads of national significance. Wellington
City Council, did the intervention thing come up at cabinet today?

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Look, I've received advice and I'm considering it in regards
to the next steps in terms of Wellington City Council.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Okay, So if you decide that you intervene, you want
to intervene, that goes to cabinet. If you decide you
don't want to intervene, does it go to cabinet?

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Well, ultimately, under the Act it's a ministerial power which
I have to take into account the legislation. It's a
serious issue. But obviously, as I said, I've received advice.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
I'm now considering it, so you don't have to take
it to cabinet.

Speaker 3 (00:45):
Well, it's a ministerial it's a ministerial power that's under
the Act. However, you know, with all of these things,
consultation with colleagues is important. But as I've said, look,
there's some serious issues here that we've asked for advice on.
I've now received that advice and I'm considering it.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Okay, did you see the eleven principles that came out
today that Tory Faro has laid out for her counselors.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Oh, look, I haven't seen that yet. I mean, obviously
I met with the mayor last week and she raised
a number of you know, a number of areas that
she's looking at in terms of trying to address the issue.
But as I said, this is a significant issue for
the council to relitigate its entire long term plan. I've
asked for some advice in terms of the intervention powers,

(01:26):
and I'm considering it right now.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
The reason I ask if you've seen these eleven principles
is that it feels like she's ring fencing and safeguarded.
She's just laying out the rules, right. She's like, you
can touch anything, but you can't touch these things that
are important to me, which hardly feels like the kind
of spirit that is needed around that table to actually
get things done. And I mean, do you feel convinced
at all that you are seeing signs from either side

(01:49):
that they actually can achieve some sort of consensus here.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
Well, I think the key thing here is, as I
said last week, this decision made by the council to
effectively relitigate the entire long term plan is concerning with
The focus here is on the impact potential impact on ratepayers.
That's what we're concerned about. But as I said, I've
asked with some advice, which is now been delivered to
me by dawn, and then I will now be considering.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
How come you guys met last week and neither of
you raised the intervention possibility.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
There's weird.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well, the reality is, you know, we both acknowledged that
I'd asked for advice, I had not yet received it
at that point. I've now received it and I'm considered.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
But did you guys, like for the whole meeting just
talk around it.

Speaker 3 (02:31):
Well, I'm not going to go into the detail of
the meeting, but the reality is, you know, she outlined
some of the plans she has to try and address
the issue. But the key issue here is the Councilor's
decided to religate its entire long term plan. Our governments
focus here is on the impact will potential impact on ratepayers.
We're now received. We've received advice in regards to the

(02:52):
next steps on that and I'm considering it okay.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
And when are you going to make a decision do
you think.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
Well, I need to take time to consider it as
a serious issue under the Government Act. And we're considering
it okay.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
This road, when do you expect to finish this road
in Hawks Bay?

Speaker 3 (03:06):
Well, the advice I've got from m ZTA, it'll be
three years of construction to deliver the first stage, which
is the most critical stage, which is the stage which
was started Early Works. Today holds about twenty ninth or
about twenty nine thousand cars move on that road each
and every day, and it can get incredibly congested during

(03:27):
peak hours. And I think I'd say to the good
people of Hawk's Bay, this road would not have started
early works today if they hadn't devoted for national at
the last election. This is great news.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Why did you decide to go for this one? First?

Speaker 3 (03:38):
Though, is the project to be proud around the country
ARMIESUSU in ZTA is Look, we've identified the roads of
national significance. This is a program of roading upgrades to
unlock economic growth and productivity across New Zealand. I've said
to them we need to find the opportunity to get
early works under construction, to get to construction as quickly
as possible. We want to be a government which gets
things done, and so I've been looking for opportunities. The

(03:59):
great thing here is this is designated road. It's already
got a designation in place. They're using sandy are they
using silt which is from the cyclone? They're using it
to compact the ground so that they can bring forward
the full construction next year on this important road in
national significance.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
Reliant stuff.

Speaker 1 (04:15):
Hey Simin, thanks very much for talking us through at
Simon Brown, Transport Minister.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
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