Former Labour leader Andrew Little’s joined the race for Wellington Mayor – what are his chances?
Current leader Tory Whanau has also thrown her hat in the ring; will Wellington give her another chance?
Wellington Chamber of Commerce CEO talks to Tim Beveridge about the qualities needed in a successful mayor, the need for an economic focus, how Wellingtonian's need to come to the table and more.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News talks'd
be anyway, right, Let's let's carry on with the conversation.
So candidates the throw and they had in the ring
for the Wellington's local election. From business owners to Facebook
page managers, Wellingtonians have plenty of options to choose from.
And look, I think it's fair to say that it's
been a messy through a messy time three years for
(00:27):
Tory Farno at the Helm and it might be more important.
You might argue that they get it right. But then again,
the may is only one voice. But Wellington Chamber of
Commerce CEO Simon Arcis is with me. Simon, good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good to join you, Tim. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, cheers, appreciate your time. Look, this looks it's looking promising.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Have we got better potential with some of the candidates
we've got there?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, I think the game certainly changed with the entry
of Andrew Little into the his candidacy the process. So
that's a really interesting development because I think Little will
have an appeal to a constituency that it's different from
the current and complimentary and different from some of the
other people standing. That's probably our big development of the week.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, is it all over bar the shouting? Do you
think Andrew's entered the race? He's a politician with a
good track record. Job done, n night.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Well, I suppose you've got to look at what Andrew
might be able to say he can solve. And if
we're talking about those last few years, you're right there's
been disunity on council, there's been a fractured relationship with
central government. And I think you've been sum to spare
about the rates arising and a sort of a focus
on those kinds of things. If Andrew, you know, he
(01:43):
does have some of those talents that dispose him to
being helpful to solve those things. And so I think
if you put those forward and he makes an argument,
the voters will make me call on that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Very measured diplomatic comments there, Actually do you guys have
to be careful about your pronouncements in your position because
we can actually favor can you favor someone?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
No, we're non partisans, so you'll get a very I'm
walking a very fine lowe with a stain club. But
also I think I think there are you know, there
are you know, you've got to be fair when you
when you measure up there in incumbent versus a contender.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
So for instance, instead of saying you wouldn't be voting
for Tory Fano, you might say, I think Tory faces
some challenges to get reelected.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Look, obviously you should go into the diplomatical to exactly
the thing that they need. But look, I can I
can comment because from the business perspective, but I can
certainly comment from the things that we'd like to see
for the city. And and look, we will work with
anyone who is there because we try, you know, that's
our aim. Properity absolutely well.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What qualities, what qualities? Might one say? What was important
for the next mayor.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Were you going to have to address? I think disunity,
it's still at the table. I think it's got and
I think and I think some of the issues that
the councilor's faces have sort of moved on to the
next stage. But I think there's that I think I
would love to see a better relationship with the central
(03:18):
government because it has been tricky on a number of levels.
And I think also also really importantly, Wellingtonians talk about
infrastructure all the time, We talk about transports all the time.
I think somebody that's going to really appeal to the
voters is going to have an economic vision for the city,
and that's going to be that they would be a
winning formula.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Well, that's sort of sort of all most answers look at.
My next question was, you know, is there a difference
between what the Wellington Chamber of Commerce might want to
see in a mayor and what Valentonians want to see
in a mayor.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, first of all, I'd probably say what I would
like to see is a better turnout from the voters.
I mean, at the moment you're looking at forty five
percent at best, and it was down to forty not
so long ago. So I mean, we really actually do
want people out there voting, and in fact, unless unless
people motivated to vote more, we won't get in a
good representation. I think there's abut one hundred and fifty
(04:10):
seven thousand voters in Wellington seventy two thousand odd turnouts.
So that's that's one. I mean, but that's for any
issue with local government, right. But I think the thing
that for me that's probably a big consideration from there
is just as somebody who links city prosperity with the
ability to you know, uh, with business and business life,
(04:34):
because I think that's one of the problems has been
a bit of a dischoice between that and I work
with a number of other mayors in a number of
other councils, and this one has a particular diffincinational disinterest
in business really in a lot of ways compared to
some of their peers. And it's always a surprise because
if we don't have people working, if we don't have
businesses thriving, the funds to do what they want to
(04:54):
do are not going to be there through the rate.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Do you think that there's because it's of course it's
the councilor makes decisions. The mayor can sort of help
set the agenda and work with people and bring them together,
but it's going to be Is there room for quite
a bit of a change in the council as well?
Do they have to be some of the brunt of
the problems?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Without question? Without question? And I think that's where you
might say that one of the things that in my
view but Tory is possibly she's been advised quite in
quite specific ways about what needs to be done, uh,
in terms of in terms of I mean that that
idea about the Council. Maybe I'll put it, turn it
(05:35):
into the positive and say at the moment and a
lot of them chans won't know this. We've got a
brand new CEO of the Council and he and he
I've met him. I think he's great so far that
he becomes with fresh eyes from the UK, which is good.
So he doesn't have any preconceptions unless he's picked up
in the paper for five minutes. But the but the
other but, but the other thing is we've also actually
(05:56):
just had a pointed a new head of the Economic
Development Agency. So you could imagine a situation which is,
you know, you have a you've a sector of new eyes,
new fresh eyes on the city and that the next
selected me it wouldn't be or were Tory to be
re elected, it wouldn't be the same. But you do
have a really good refreshed field.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Go the mayor.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
They occupy different skiers. But if you want to, if
you want to, I mean ask a you know, sordid
you know, over over work ceo answering your question now,
I think the CEO is highly influential and I do
think and I do think the I do think that
in the end you know that the governors are presented
(06:39):
with decisions to make, but they go through a huge
process before that, and if you don't have the right
person in charge, it can be a problem.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I remember the days. I don't know how long have
you been around for on the earth, but I remember
the days. I'm old enough to remember when back when
in New Zealand did mystery Getaways and you just turn
into the court And it used to be considered to
be that Wellington would be one of those places you'd
be like, oh fantastic, you know, because it had it.
It was a buzzing, vibrant city and I don't want
to be but it does feel that it doesn't hold
(07:08):
that place in people's views. How long do you think
it would take to turn it around to make Wellington
I hate to use the old slogan, but absolutely positively.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Wellington even great again. But I think I think the
thing for me is probably and I'm just going to
just pause for a minute because you've taken me down.
This slia is latte bowls at Lafara the introduced, and
God only knows how we drank two of those aday.
It was like having a pint of milk. Ladder bowls
(07:36):
were every ball suit.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Look, but Willington was and that Lafarian others kicked it
off into this huge sort of venue. And I think,
I think cities do go through their cycle. I think
what's happened here is you've got a Pilon effect of
you've got a Polympic COVID, you've got a Polympics, the
public sector changes, you've got a non non business focused
majority on the council, and of course things have just
(08:00):
sort of had a little bit more of multiplier effect.
But I am I'm sure that women can come back.
And one of the things we've got to do, if
you're talking about economic vision, we've really got to look
at what makes the city resilient. So so if we're
not going to be dependent on the public sector, and
you look at something like our creative sector not public
sector dependent, fantastic and that is an offset to that
(08:22):
heavy dependence we otherwise had.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Hey, Simon, I think i'd vote for you. You're not
thinking throwing.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You over heavy. I'm hugely flattered, and I would be
I would have the I would have the temerity to
say you're not the first. I would also say that
I've been at dinners with me as I've been events
with them I've had and I've seen our delightful rape
payers once in a while stride up and tell them
(08:49):
exactly what they're thinking in the middle of such democracy,
in the middle of the meal, and I would probably
be in jail for results shortly after. So I'm not.
I don't think it's my.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
You've thought about it, obviously, Well you've thought about it.
You could, you can us. Now let's just let's let's
do it. Give us a headline.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh, look, look to this show doesn't need any glory
on it but through an announcement. But well, my grandfather
was deputing me or something enough, and it takes me
and it makes me think a little bit of it
in the sixties. You know, he was actually a very
sort of well it didn't carry through, but he was
a very reasonable, sort of easy going person. And one
of the things about him was he was very focused
(09:29):
on compromise. And actually that's what local government has always
been about. Traditionally, you know, people get together and they
trade off a bit. The problem is the partisanship. And
we've just got to and look, we've got new faces
scanning for counsel right through. I think it's I think
it's positives all the way.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Excellent. Hey, Simon, really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thanks
so much.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
It was really good chat.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Okay, cheers, bye bye. That is Simon Archus, Wellington Chamber
of Commerce. I'd vote for him.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
For more from the Weekend Collective. Listen live to News
talksz'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio and
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News talks'd
be anyway, right, Let's let's carry on with the conversation.
So candidates the throw and they had in the ring
for the Wellington's local election. From business owners to Facebook
page managers, Wellingtonians have plenty of options to choose from.
And look, I think it's fair to say that it's
been a messy through a messy time three years for
(00:27):
Tory Farno at the Helm and it might be more important.
You might argue that they get it right. But then again,
the may is only one voice. But Wellington Chamber of
Commerce CEO Simon Arcis is with me. Simon, good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Good to join you, Tim. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, cheers, appreciate your time. Look, this looks it's looking promising.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Have we got better potential with some of the candidates
we've got there?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, I think the game certainly changed with the entry
of Andrew Little into the his candidacy the process. So
that's a really interesting development because I think Little will
have an appeal to a constituency that it's different from
the current and complimentary and different from some of the
other people standing. That's probably our big development of the week.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, is it all over bar the shouting? Do you
think Andrew's entered the race? He's a politician with a
good track record. Job done, n night.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Well, I suppose you've got to look at what Andrew
might be able to say he can solve. And if
we're talking about those last few years, you're right there's
been disunity on council, there's been a fractured relationship with
central government. And I think you've been sum to spare
about the rates arising and a sort of a focus
on those kinds of things. If Andrew, you know, he
(01:43):
does have some of those talents that dispose him to
being helpful to solve those things. And so I think
if you put those forward and he makes an argument,
the voters will make me call on that.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Very measured diplomatic comments there, Actually do you guys have
to be careful about your pronouncements in your position because
we can actually favor can you favor someone?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
No, we're non partisans, so you'll get a very I'm
walking a very fine lowe with a stain club. But
also I think I think there are you know, there
are you know, you've got to be fair when you
when you measure up there in incumbent versus a contender.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
So for instance, instead of saying you wouldn't be voting
for Tory Fano, you might say, I think Tory faces
some challenges to get reelected.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Look, obviously you should go into the diplomatical to exactly
the thing that they need. But look, I can I
can comment because from the business perspective, but I can
certainly comment from the things that we'd like to see
for the city. And and look, we will work with
anyone who is there because we try, you know, that's
our aim. Properity absolutely well.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What qualities, what qualities? Might one say? What was important
for the next mayor.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Were you going to have to address? I think disunity,
it's still at the table. I think it's got and
I think and I think some of the issues that
the councilor's faces have sort of moved on to the
next stage. But I think there's that I think I
would love to see a better relationship with the central
(03:18):
government because it has been tricky on a number of levels.
And I think also also really importantly, Wellingtonians talk about
infrastructure all the time, We talk about transports all the time.
I think somebody that's going to really appeal to the
voters is going to have an economic vision for the city,
and that's going to be that they would be a
winning formula.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Well, that's sort of sort of all most answers look at.
My next question was, you know, is there a difference
between what the Wellington Chamber of Commerce might want to
see in a mayor and what Valentonians want to see
in a mayor.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, first of all, I'd probably say what I would
like to see is a better turnout from the voters.
I mean, at the moment you're looking at forty five
percent at best, and it was down to forty not
so long ago. So I mean, we really actually do
want people out there voting, and in fact, unless unless
people motivated to vote more, we won't get in a
good representation. I think there's abut one hundred and fifty
(04:10):
seven thousand voters in Wellington seventy two thousand odd turnouts.
So that's that's one. I mean, but that's for any
issue with local government, right. But I think the thing
that for me that's probably a big consideration from there
is just as somebody who links city prosperity with the
ability to you know, uh, with business and business life,
(04:34):
because I think that's one of the problems has been
a bit of a dischoice between that and I work
with a number of other mayors in a number of
other councils, and this one has a particular diffincinational disinterest
in business really in a lot of ways compared to
some of their peers. And it's always a surprise because
if we don't have people working, if we don't have
businesses thriving, the funds to do what they want to
(04:54):
do are not going to be there through the rate.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Do you think that there's because it's of course it's
the councilor makes decisions. The mayor can sort of help
set the agenda and work with people and bring them together,
but it's going to be Is there room for quite
a bit of a change in the council as well?
Do they have to be some of the brunt of
the problems?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Without question? Without question? And I think that's where you
might say that one of the things that in my
view but Tory is possibly she's been advised quite in
quite specific ways about what needs to be done, uh,
in terms of in terms of I mean that that
idea about the Council. Maybe I'll put it, turn it
(05:35):
into the positive and say at the moment and a
lot of them chans won't know this. We've got a
brand new CEO of the Council and he and he
I've met him. I think he's great so far that
he becomes with fresh eyes from the UK, which is good.
So he doesn't have any preconceptions unless he's picked up
in the paper for five minutes. But the but the
other but, but the other thing is we've also actually
(05:56):
just had a pointed a new head of the Economic
Development Agency. So you could imagine a situation which is,
you know, you have a you've a sector of new eyes,
new fresh eyes on the city and that the next
selected me it wouldn't be or were Tory to be
re elected, it wouldn't be the same. But you do
have a really good refreshed field.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Go the mayor.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
They occupy different skiers. But if you want to, if
you want to, I mean ask a you know, sordid
you know, over over work ceo answering your question now,
I think the CEO is highly influential and I do
think and I do think the I do think that
in the end you know that the governors are presented
(06:39):
with decisions to make, but they go through a huge
process before that, and if you don't have the right
person in charge, it can be a problem.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I remember the days. I don't know how long have
you been around for on the earth, but I remember
the days. I'm old enough to remember when back when
in New Zealand did mystery Getaways and you just turn
into the court And it used to be considered to
be that Wellington would be one of those places you'd
be like, oh fantastic, you know, because it had it.
It was a buzzing, vibrant city and I don't want
to be but it does feel that it doesn't hold
(07:08):
that place in people's views. How long do you think
it would take to turn it around to make Wellington
I hate to use the old slogan, but absolutely positively.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Wellington even great again. But I think I think the
thing for me is probably and I'm just going to
just pause for a minute because you've taken me down.
This slia is latte bowls at Lafara the introduced, and
God only knows how we drank two of those aday.
It was like having a pint of milk. Ladder bowls
(07:36):
were every ball suit.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
Look, but Willington was and that Lafarian others kicked it
off into this huge sort of venue. And I think,
I think cities do go through their cycle. I think
what's happened here is you've got a Pilon effect of
you've got a Polympic COVID, you've got a Polympics, the
public sector changes, you've got a non non business focused
majority on the council, and of course things have just
(08:00):
sort of had a little bit more of multiplier effect.
But I am I'm sure that women can come back.
And one of the things we've got to do, if
you're talking about economic vision, we've really got to look
at what makes the city resilient. So so if we're
not going to be dependent on the public sector, and
you look at something like our creative sector not public
sector dependent, fantastic and that is an offset to that
(08:22):
heavy dependence we otherwise had.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Hey, Simon, I think i'd vote for you. You're not
thinking throwing.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
You over heavy. I'm hugely flattered, and I would be
I would have the I would have the temerity to
say you're not the first. I would also say that
I've been at dinners with me as I've been events
with them I've had and I've seen our delightful rape
payers once in a while stride up and tell them
(08:49):
exactly what they're thinking in the middle of such democracy,
in the middle of the meal, and I would probably
be in jail for results shortly after. So I'm not.
I don't think it's my.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
You've thought about it, obviously, Well you've thought about it.
You could, you can us. Now let's just let's let's
do it. Give us a headline.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Oh, look, look to this show doesn't need any glory
on it but through an announcement. But well, my grandfather
was deputing me or something enough, and it takes me
and it makes me think a little bit of it
in the sixties. You know, he was actually a very
sort of well it didn't carry through, but he was
a very reasonable, sort of easy going person. And one
of the things about him was he was very focused
(09:29):
on compromise. And actually that's what local government has always
been about. Traditionally, you know, people get together and they
trade off a bit. The problem is the partisanship. And
we've just got to and look, we've got new faces
scanning for counsel right through. I think it's I think
it's positives all the way.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Excellent. Hey, Simon, really appreciate your time this afternoon. Thanks
so much.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
It was really good chat.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Okay, cheers, bye bye. That is Simon Archus, Wellington Chamber
of Commerce. I'd vote for him.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
For more from the Weekend Collective. Listen live to News
talksz'd be weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio and
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