Dame Kerry Prendergast: Former Wellington Mayor on the Government appointing a Crown Observer to Wellington City Council

A former Wellington Mayor thinks Tory Whanau's made the right call to accept a Crown observer at her council. 

The city's Long Term Plan's being re-written after the city u-turned on its decision to sell its shares in Wellington Airport. 

There's also been a raft of issues around the council table. 

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown cited councillors walking out of meetings and refusing to participate in votes as rationale for intervention. 

Ex-Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast told Mike Hosking there'll be some relief from Wellingtonians this morning. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the Government pulled the Wellington trigger and will place
a Crown observer into the council that does observing dysfunction
sold the dysfunction. Former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prindergast's well,
there's Kerry morning to you.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good morning mate.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Does it pain your heart to watch alders?

Speaker 2 (00:15):
I think for most Wellingtonian still be some relief this morning.
The poll set me indicate that not just Swllingtona's but
New Zealanders were tired of what was playing out in
our front pages. I am sure the Mayor and counselors
and management are also positive about this. It needs to
be sorted.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
What does an observer do that's practical as opposed to
just observing and reporting back.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
I think the terms of reference from what I read,
they have a role certainly in reporting and watching what's happening.
They have to ensure that quality advice is coming from
management and they have the ability to go outside council
to make sure there's quality advice. That they have to
make sure that all that advice goes into making sure

(01:04):
the next long term plan, which Council will have to
consult on again is financially sustainable and they've got to
pets give some guidance on leadership at all order. But
I think the response from the mayor was the right one.
Yesterday wants to work, positively accepts it, and I think

(01:24):
that is absolutely the right response.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
From your observation, how much of it's about the mechanics
of running a city versus the ideology and never the
twin shall meet.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
I think it's a combination of everything. A new mayor
and a diverse use around the table, and the complications
of massive under investment and in destruction. How do you
fund it? And all of that came to a head,
of course, when what they thought would help fund it

(01:55):
the sale of the airport shares, that vote changed. I
don't have to go back and try and find where
they make up that gap.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Has Simeon read it right an observer for now, which
is a shot across the bow I'm assuming, or should
he have gone further in the first place.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
I think the minister has made the right corn eye
and positive he didn't make that decision lightly. It is
not It is not easy for a central government to
step into local government. Local government's responsible for its own decisions,
and this is a center right government. I am sure
that he took lots of advice and it wasn't something

(02:36):
that he came to an easy decision on. But I
do think it's the right decision. And let's hope with
the right person in there and a counsel and theyre
and management her. Now listening, we're going to see the
right response coming from them.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Would you want to be a Crown observer?

Speaker 2 (02:53):
I don't think that's the skill set they're looking for.
They'll be looking for someone who is maybe an accountant,
a financial expert, someone who will be able to display
the qualities I've just said, that's the sort of person
they'll be looking for.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Nice to talk to, you appreciate it very much. Name
Kerry Prendergasta former willing to mirror, of course. For more
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