July 7, 2024 • 31 mins
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says the so-called collapse of her council majority is just "political theatre".
Whanau is fresh from passing the council's long-term-plan, controversial with many councillors due to her support for selling the council's 34 per cent stake in Wellington Airport.
Councillors Ben McNulty, Nureddin Abdurahman and Green councillor Nīkau Wi Neera all alleged Whanau abandoned her progressive agenda.
"I still have a good relationship with these guys, to be honest," Whanau told Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills.
"They say [they don't trust me], but this is all political theatre, it gets the headlines, it's all good."
Whanau joined Nick Mills to talk about the long-term-plan, as well as her ADHD diagnosis, discussions for a Wellington super city, and the recent Wellington residents survey.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk Said b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joining me in the studio is Wellington Mayor Torrifano Gyoda.
Good morning, Yoda. How are you very well? Had a
great weekend in Wellington? How was your weekend with weather?
Was beautiful?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
It was winter, yeah, yeah, and it was like that
last weekend two with Matariki. It's like winter and it's crisp,
but it's been sunny days. It's been quite nice, I
think for the city.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
How good was Maturiki?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Oh so good. So I had my whole family come
and stay with me. That's like seven people staying in
the house. It was quite a lot. And we went
down to Maria basically Mutdeye styles and we went down
on a sad day, got there at six. We were
there till nine because it.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Was just so close too early. It was nine too early.
A couple of people complained that it was too I
thought it was great.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
I thought it was great because we stayed there till
the end and it had really filtered out by then.
But it was a great way to go down and
look at a couple of things, have some dinner and
then and continue looking, but it was the projections on
Tipappa and the lagoon were just really.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Wonderful, spectacular, spectacular. Okay, that's a positive for this hour.
Let's get into the negatives. Oh, let's start with the
developments over the past few weeks. Yep, you're here just
a couple of weeks after three left wing counselors seriously
criticized your leadership. One of them, Green's nikl Wanera stood
(01:38):
with you on stage tonight you were elected, cuddling, holding
your hand, saying yes, this is all new, this is fantastic.
Now he wants no part in the direction of your leadership.
All three of these councilors believe you have portrayed your
progressive values by selling the airport shares and the long
term plan. How do you answer that criticism.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Look, I still have a good relationship with these guys,
to be honest, so we still have meetings behind the
sit They don't trust you, well, they say they don't,
but this is Look, this is all political theater. It
gets the headlines. It's all good. They are really unhappy
off the airport sale, and I completely understand that that
is something that they believe in deeply. But we've still
(02:22):
committed to working on other progressive policies. I met Niko
in particular, we met to go over some of his
priorities over the next few years, and I said I
would wholeheartedly support them. So look, it's just it's theater
around the airport's sale. I am confident we can continue
working together.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
What are you reckon's gone so wrong? For these three?
Ben McNulty, you're an Abraham Rahman and Nico were there
to be so I don't know aggressive. I mean, their
stand was pretty pretty out there. It wasn't like, yeah,
Torri is my buddy and we've had a bit of
a thought out. This is hey gone is yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, and look at it isn't history. That's certainly what
has been said. But I do not generally don't believe that.
I think I think this is the state of politics
at the moment. So if you look at central government,
you look at other councils around New Zealand, it is
becoming a lot more hostile and a bit more grand standing.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I would say, but these are your guys, these are
your team. They are so it's a little bit different
to say that.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
It is absolutely unusual. But if I recall when I
worked for the Green Party, James Shure, he had to
deal with this all.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
The time and they finally got rid of him.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
No, he left on his own.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
But you leave on your own, I mean, whether you
get it.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Was challenged, well, at least at least until he went
until but he chose to stand down because he didn't
he didn't want to continue after being the climate change minister.
He just had his time. But he dealt with these
challenges all the time because you have to make decisions
that are not necessarily popular with your people, but they
are the right thing to do.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Tell me. It was reported a couple of people reported
that it was suggest since of this criticism was these
three was obviously all men, was misogyny. Do you think
this is fair.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
That that criticism? Oh, I mean, not necessarily.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I don't think it's You don't think it was an
anti woman thingr No.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
No, no, no, no, no. I can I can see why
people might think that, because, as you say, the behavior
is unusual. But I don't in my heart believe that
the miss.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
How bitter and heated. I mean, we saw it on video,
but we really didn't know was the other meetings in
the council right now. How how sort of unconstructive is
that such a word? Are the council meetings right now
with the numbers not being on your side?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah, it's it has been challenging, you know, I'm not
going to pretend that it isn't. It's a shame because
when you look at the May thirtieth meeting, which was
the key meeting to decide what goes into the LTP,
that was so constructive and you had the majority of
people around the table behaving well. Every councilor got something
that they wanted in their LTP and it was quite
(05:12):
an excellent compromise what everyone involved.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
How strong are you on this airport sale thing? Because
it feels to me that this could be the straw
that breaks the camel's back for Torri Farner.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
I want to answer the last question first, can I?
And so there are moments of greatness when the council
can really come together and be collaborative, and that's something
I'll always strive for. But once the decisions are made,
that's when the political theater comes into play, because it's
kind of safe to do that. That's what we're seeing.
This is Wellington City where a political city. We're always
(05:46):
going to attract diverse councilors and I think this is
just probably quite typical of what you'll see on Wellington
City Council in regards to the airport. How committed am I?
I genuinely think it is the best option that we
have for now that fits into our financial strategy and
makes our long term plan sustainable, puts Wellington's city in
(06:07):
a safer place for when we experience a future disaster.
We've seen one up north, a climate related disaster happen.
They are becoming more frequent we need.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
We also saw a massive earthquake in christ Church. Massive
earthquake in question. The very first thing that was fixed
up was the airport and everyone knows that. So the
government aren't going to sit back and let the airport fall.
They're going to sort that out, So that argument doesn't
wash thin.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
But I meanful though, this is not the city we
need to rebuild a city. And yes a lot of
government funding went into christ Church, but to be a
good partner to central government, we can't just rely on
them to give us a massive handout should the worst happen.
Finances are really really tight, so we're doing our bit.
We do expect the government to help, but we can't
expect them to fund everything. So this is a good,
(06:54):
safe way to do self insurance could diversifire our portfolio.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Could this be Torri Farino's moment like Celia Wade Brown's
moment was on the Island based cycle way.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I mean, I hope it isn't, because this is not
something I campaigned on. It's not something I'm passionate about.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
It's something you changed your tune on, though, It's.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Something I changed my tune on because I think that's
what good.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Sorry, I mean to point that was rudable, right, But I.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Changed my tune on it because I was presented with
information evidence and I.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
This Barbara Mchirott, No, No, is it Tim Brown? Who's
the power person behind this decision? It's like it's a
whole Come on, tell me who the power perpose someone?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
There is somebody, There's no one power person.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
There is a power person driving the sale.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
There is absolutely not, absolutely not. You're just making that up.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
How can I be making that up? When three people
that were your loyal lieutenants walked out on you. The
you had three theater, three broken marriages in one day.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Look, broken marriages happen all the time. It's fine, No,
this is Look, we were given a lot of information
by KPMG about the benefits of diversifying our portfolio. We've
been working really closely with our seeing.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
You went to k You went to KPMG and said,
is the money? Give me a report that only tells
me the positive thing. They didn't give you any negatives.
Their prerequisite was.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Negative because it showed us just what a tight situation
we were in and why we should consider selling the airport.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
So so what other alternatives did they give you? Well,
it was a long gap there.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Well, it's our biggest asset. It's either that or sell
our social housing.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
It's you know, a lot of people think that's a
good idea.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
No, you're the only person.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I am not the only person wrong.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Maybe you and counselor Calvert are the only people I've
ever heard say that. And that's certainly not. That's not
enough for me to even consider that.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Really it should be.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Because two people think so.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I think. I think it brings me more money and
it takes less stress, and we shouldn't be actually looking
after social housing when we've got a government does the
same job. We're competing against the government.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
The assumption that the government is willing to buy all
the stock off us, which they don't. They won't.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
All right, let's get back on track. We're starting to
put boxing gloves on instead of trying to work. Where
we go? Do you really think that the public, the
Wellington public support the sale of the airport cheese?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
If you go by our consultation, I believe it was
twenty percent that were opposed to it. The majority either
supported a sale or a partial sale or didn't really
have in opinion.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Do you believe that eighty percent of Wellington people wanted
the airport chairs sold?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
No, that's not quite. It's not quite eighty percent. I
would say over half of those who engaged in the
submissions support it.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
What do you think the Greens are thinking right now?
The Green power base, when they're thinking right now, what
do you think they're making your leadership? Given that the
party's manifesto is that assets should not be sold under
any circumstances, So what do you reckon they're thinking right now?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I'm sure they're disappointed.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
But did they cancel your membership again?
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Absolutely not. And I've had a lot of positivity from
the party actually, because the thing about the Greens is that,
yes that they are left wing, they care about climate
and social issues, but they were also pragmatists as do
you pay a tie.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
To the Green Party?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
No, okay, but that they're pragmatics, so they know that
the difficult situation that we're in when it comes to
our finances. So I've spoken to the co leaders, I've
spoken to other Green politicians, and while they're not enthusiastic
about the sale, they understand what I've had to do.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
How close did the long term plan come to failing?
How close do it?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So we were at I believe it was nine votes
to seven, Yes, nine to seven, So it was tip.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Are you concerned slightly that your majority on the council
has been lessened and you're going to have a bit
of trouble over the next eighty months or do you
think you're need to get them back on board.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I'll get them, well, I'll get them back on board
with the right issues. So I think as it should
have always been, We're just going to have to vigorously debate,
question work through every issue by issue, and that's fine.
I genuinely believe that the three guys they are still
passionate about environmental and social issues, so they will vote
(11:17):
the right way when it comes to that.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Do you think Ben McNulty is going to run for
me a next election?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I don't know. You'd have to ask him.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, do you know him? You know him pretty well,
do you think. I mean everyone seems to be stopping
me in the street and saying that, you know, that's
what he's got eyeing for. He tells me to my
face that he's not.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I I haven't heard that he is, to be honest,
but he might have other ambitions.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
And that's how are you going? How are you feeling
with all this? I mean, you've suddenly lost, you know,
three members of your fano.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
No, no, no, it's a look. It was a bummer
at first, and it's frustrating because you know, to get
the best things done you have to work as a
team and when when come some kind of go, you know,
go into a different direction. It makes things harder.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
But have you worked a little bit harder with some
of the other oppositions. Yes, I have. Yeah, I've heard
that too.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So is that working for it?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Well, not all the time, but it absolutely did. On
the May the thirtieth weekend, I think you may have
heard I have and went out for a cup of
tea with Nikola Young and.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
How was that?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
It's great? We had a good old laugh. So it's
actually as a result of that kind of deepened my
relationship with the other counselors, which I think is a
really positive thing. But I you know, for the rest
of this term, our meetings will continue to be challenging, robust.
There'll be theater because that's just Wellington City Council.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I'm going to leave this now because I know I'm
sounding like a broken record. But is there any way
that the sale of the airport chairs won't go through?
And who's going to value the shares and who's going
to come up with the price of the shares and
how do we know we're going to get a good deal.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
So all of that work is going to be put
together and then come back to council in December.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Is there a chance that they'll come back and say
we're in a recession right now and the price we'll
get for our shares is not good enough. Shall we
just hold a couple of years? Possibly, So there's still
a possibility.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
In that December, meaning yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Okay, So it's not an absolute, it's.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Not a final final. I mean we again, we need
it to go through for our current long term plan
and for projects to start because it's all part of
one big package. But you know, we would absolutely take
certain things into consideration if the environment completely changed.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Okay, December, let's talk about your own Wellington residence survey. Now,
you do this every year, and we talked about it
last year, and we talked about it I think the
year before, and I've talked about it with someone every year.
So this is where you put your own survey out
there and ask people what they think of you and
what you what they want to see from their council.
Only fifty percent of Wellingtonians have pride in their city now,
that's down from eighty two percent in twenty nineteen. That's
(13:51):
a massive, massive figure.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yeah, it is. And we know that things are really
difficult at the moment, and it's it's not actually that surprising.
So we are, you know, going through a transformational period.
There's construction all over the place that doesn't exactly set
people up for happiness, so to speak. It's always a
really deficate.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Oh, hit you with another figure. Thirty seven percent of
people think Central Wellington is lively and attractive. This figure
was eighty percent.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Nine.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
So first I want to say, you know, like the
survey is great because it does inform us and it
helps us prioritize certain projects more. We do know that
actually people were finding it easier to get around the
city because of cycling and public transport, and they love
our community facilities. That's great.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
However, we know that this and you're going to remember
that the buses we had no bus drivers when the
last time the survey was on. Now, I'm not taking
anything away from a positive. It was a positive, but
the last time they did the survey there was no
bus drivers, so we couldn't get anywhere on a bus. Yes,
so it had to get better.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Yes, well it's gotten better.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Yes, it has got better, but.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
We know we have a lot of work to do,
especially when it comes to the city center is of
course city safety, so we have we are restarting a
couple of initiatives. So we're kind of redoing the poor
nicky promise thing and we've got it now, it's.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Why do you just chuck it out? It hasn't worked.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, it's why do you just chuck it Out's done
its dash In the first we restarting a city safety group,
so we've got all the the leaders involved in like
to order, the police, so forth, hospitality to actually have
some proper input into what the city safety needs to
look like. We've provided more funding about half a million
(15:32):
to go into these initiatives. And this plan will be
alongside our Courtney Place Precinct plan, which shall be a
key project of my business Advisory Group where we're going
to work together collaboratively on what that could look like.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Just about to rip the guts out of Courtney Place.
Let's be honest. You start at the end of the year. Yes,
all thoses go through. You're going to rip the absolute
guts out of Courtney Place.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
To talk, we do Courtney Place, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
What's going to be left standing anyway?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
That we're going to be a brand new precinct, That's
what it's going to be.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Okay, what are they going to do with all the
old buildings along there because you can't change them there
by people? Yeah, Well, how can you say it's going
to be a brand new precinct when it's all down
all the way that all the way down both sides
of the streets is crappy old buildings.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I mean, it's amazing what you can do by redesigning
streets and making them much more pedestrian friendly, widening the
streets so you can have much more accessibility for outdoor
dining and all that stuff. But what it's missing our
activations And that's what we're working with this with the
Business Advisory Group on how can we activate activate the
(16:37):
space during that transition period. What sort of relief do
we need to provide businesses? But also once it's done,
how do we ensure.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
That it's actually okay. I want to stick to the
satisfaction because we'll come to others And I was the
one that asked that question, so I got on the
wrong one, not you. Satisfaction of Wellington City Council's performance
has fallen from thirty three percent to twenty nine percent.
That means out of ten people, seven people are dissatisfied
with the performance of Wellington City Council. Now you're the
mayor of the council. Do you take any responsibility for that?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
So I do. It is my responsibility and it's never
nice to hear those stats, but they were also again
not surprising. People are going to find it very difficult
to be satisfied with the council when you're going through
a disruptive period. And look, I've spoken about this a
couple of times. You know, all counselors can lift their
(17:26):
game in regards to their behavior and how they treat
other people. I think that has a real impact on
what people think of the council as well and how
we treat staff. So it's going to be a big
challenge for years to come.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Council CEO Barbara Maciro faced a lot of criticism last
month for introducing for introducing the policy that restricts councilors
access from information unless it's related to an incoming vote.
Upcoming vote, it left one councilor asking for information under
the official Information at Macarro later scrapped the policy after
the Minister of Local Government said it was appalling. Was
(18:02):
this ever acceptable to you?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Yeah, I mean the intention of the protocols were developed
to make it clearer and faster for counselors to access
confidential information. The way that it was put out was
an ideal and Barbara was one of the first to
actually admit that, you know, there had been a step missed,
and after speaking with myself and a couple of other counselors,
(18:28):
she did pull them. And as you know, she's working
on her way forward to work much more collaboratory, collaboratively
with counselors. So that particular situation, while not ideal, you know,
I I have confidence in Barbara and I know that
she'll continue to do it. She'll do the right thing.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Respected Wellington businessman and ex councilor Chris Parkin was on
the show saying that Barbara mccarro should be running the
city and that's the way CEO should work. Do you
think that Barbara mcciro should be running the city or
you as mayor should be running the city?
Speaker 3 (19:00):
She runs council, she has she has of a sight
of all the stuff, so of course she should run
that entire operation. It's up to myself as mayor and
the counselors to lead and govern the city. We make
the decisions, but essentially Barbara has to make sure that
it happens.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
How close are you to her, what's a relationship doing?
Speaker 3 (19:23):
We're really good?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Does she does? She rule the roosters? She got you
she got you, You're e it.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
No like it's it's a very it's a it's a
good trusting relationship and I think very highly of Barbara.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
How do you how do you react to the criticism
that people are putting out there that she she's sort
of got you under control?
Speaker 3 (19:44):
I mean, I think it's rubbish and it's just again,
what's so frustrating about, you know, being part of counsels.
It's just people just like to bag it all the time.
It's the scapeboat of everything that's wrong. There's an attempt
for to derail mine and Barbara's relationship. That's not going
to happen.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I think I think she'll be here after Do you
think she'll be here after February next year?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
I don't know. You'll have to ask her that.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
But you've already said you have a relationship with her,
or do I have a relationship with my producer. I
know whether he's going to be here in three months.
You don't know whether she's going to come back or not.
Well wants to renew.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
We haven't talked about it.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You've never spoken to her, I mean, only five months
away from maybe.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
We spoke a few months ago about this. And had
every intention of moving forward. So look, I haven't had
an update since then, but that would be completely her decision, a.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Natural progressor for her. Chevron Proctor's just resigned. Why is
she resigned? Where she going? What's she doing?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I don't know, you do know? No, I don't know,
And actually I think it's I don't think it's appropriate
to actually just to name staffers apart from the CEO.
To name staff is to ask about their personal life
and what they're doing afterwards. That's none of our business.
I think what has frustrated me recently is just the
(21:07):
ease that people have to bring council staff into media
when that would never have happened there development, But.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
The public figures, no, they're not. Chevaughn Proctor is a
public person, she's not.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
She's a spokesperson for certain issues. But I think it's
deeply unfair for us to try and guess what she's
up to next. That's that's that's for people like myself
and other counselors to answer. So I don't. Look, I
just don't think it's appropriate to be discussing stuff.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
You don't think it's appropriate to be discussing whether you're CEO.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Who is a CEO is different? Is that that is
a you know, the CEO goes so you.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Never had a discussion with her, not knowing what she's
going to do in the future, and certainly what do
we now?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Of course I have, I just haven't in the last
couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Okay, I've just got cramp and I think it's the
mayor's fault. Meya, Torrifano's in the studio with us taking
your calls. Paul, you have a question for meya Torrifano.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Yeah, how's it going on. I've got a rental and
Wontington in Allaid Road. The parking stuff there. Intendants can't
park anywhere, you know, if things are not broken, don't
fix them. You know, he's been really good Newsance wiped
out the park park there as well, you know, and
they'll probably get attacked and that would they have to
(22:21):
walk a lot far further further away as well where
I spoke spoke to you.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
What's your question, Paul? Can you give me a question
for the mayor? Please? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (22:30):
That that is?
Speaker 4 (22:31):
What are you going to do about the parking? It
is still my property is going to drop a value
be because of what you were doing.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Thank you, Paul.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
So there's been a you know, obviously a big, massive
project around the Newtown area to reprioritize a lot more
parking for residents, so residents should be able to apply
for a parking permit, more residents than before. And if
he's having any trouble with that, then he should let
counsel know.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Everybody's having trouble with that though, aren't they?
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, a little bit like because we a little bit well, okay,
so time we've decided time.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
And I'm not laughing at you. I'm just saying it's
more than a lay fine.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Look, it's a challenging issume. We know that not everyone's
going to be happy with it. We've made the decision
time and time again to start to reprioritize roads for
a mixture of parking as well as our bus lanes
as well as cycle ways. That unfortunately means removing some
car parks so that we have a mode for everyone.
So some people will be unhappy with that transition, but it.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Is what it is, okay, John, John, you have a
question for me a Torrifino.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Yes, thanks for taking my call. When are you going
to clean up that mess and courtingly placed manustry all
those homeless people and it's a disgrace. I bought someone
into town from out of town the other week and
they said, never bring me back into Wellington again. They
used to live in Wellington.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Thanks John.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
So, as I mentioned kind of earlier in the show,
we've got two big projects. So now that we've got
the LTP done and dusted, we've added half a million
dollars in to the City Safety Initiative to work with
agencies to help get some of our people off the streets.
And then of course we've got the Golden Mile project
which will help redesign those streets as well. It is
(24:17):
a it's not an overnight fix. Those are both quite
lengthy issues, but those those are our key things to
clean up Courtney Place right.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Thank you, Thanks for your questions. Oh one hundred and
eighty ten eighty. We have got time for another couple
of quick ones if you want to be quick, because
otherwise I get involved. And I asked my question super
city amalgamation. There's a meeting earlier this year of mayors
a potty to allow Upper Hut and yourself about the
amalgamation of the four councils into a supercity. According to reports,
(24:47):
three of the four mayors were on board with the discussion,
but you weren't. You don't think the supercity idea is
a good idea.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
I'm on board with it, and I said in that meeting,
I'm absolutely happy for the conversation to happen. I just
you know, I've been asked if it needs it should
happen before the next local body election. For that that
is too soon, because yeah, we've got big issues like
infrastructure to.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Why has it been reported so widely that you were
the one that wasn't interested.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Because a lot of people like to blow what I
say out of proportion all the time.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
So do you think that that we have got because
I mean I get text too saying Wan Guppy doesn't
want it. You know, I get it all the time.
So do you think that if right now we could
get all four mayors in one room and they would,
you know, generally speaking beyond the same page with their amalgamation.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
In the longer term, not in the next half.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
In a long term, are we talking one or two
or three you know, election cycles.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
But perhaps the next cycle. But I think a piece
of work that needs to happen. First is getting the
public on board, what is the public value, making sure
that they understand why this needs to happen. At the moment,
it's just kind of like politicians in a room talking
about why this is a good idea. And I do
think we are generally on the same page, but we
really need to be engaging with the community.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Do you think that you're all on the same pager
Let's get it done or let's just look at it.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Oh, I think a couple are probably more enthusiastic. It's
just look, my mind is much more focused on the
long term plan, infrastructure, the next election and ensuring that
we retain a Mary ward, and but absolutely very happy
to engage in this conversation and move it forward.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Do we need I mean you mentioned it, not me,
the Maori contingent. When we've got us are elected Marii
Wahni as mayor, I mean it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Yeah, but like I'm here to focus on the issue
of the city. The Marii ward is specifically focused on
the issue for Ewei Manafenoa and Marty, so I can't
do both. I think it would be too much to
expect me to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Do you think we'll ever be in a situation in
New Zealand where we are voting on the person rather
than their ethnicity.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
I think we'll ever get to the situation where we
have enough Marie on the council or on within the
organization not to have to appoint specialists.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Do you think? I'm just asking, do you think we'll
ever be not anytime soon? You don't know.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
I don't like it was. It saddens me. And look,
I think Wellington is its own you know, we're quite different.
We're much more forward thinking and I think that it
won't be a problem here. But I think you know,
from what we've witnessed in other areas, I don't know,
Like I just it's a tricky, hostile time in communities
(27:43):
at the moment, whether it's race relations or other issues.
There are minimal protests, there are anti trans protests. It's
for felt the last couple of years or ever since COVID,
it's it's been quite unpleasant. And I think this is
part of that.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
And back to this to the super city. If we
could get a united front, surely that we be a
good thing for our region to be one very strong region.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Absolutely, and so it ensures things like you know, housing
intensification and transport and managing and infrastructure, managing those big
projects can be done a lot more seamlessly. So in
the long term absolutely makes sense.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Do you know whether I mean and I don't know,
and I should know whether Lower Heart and Upperhart and
pottyt Or have got their own city councilors have got
their own social housing as well?
Speaker 3 (28:33):
No, I don't.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
No, I don't either, So I mean I should know
that because that would be one way of getting rid
of all the social housing when the super city came in.
I'm not pushing that barrow. I just think you are.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Well.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I'm pushing the barrow because I think it's silly that
we have two separate identities fighting for the same business.
That's what I think. And I think if we're ever
going to clean up and make some money, and it's
a loss making thing for the council, and I'm about
making the council not put up the rate so much. Okay.
I want to finish off Tory with something you revealed
to news Talks. Here'd be last month that you've been
diagnosed with ADHD. And have significal and traits of autism.
(29:09):
How's that all affecting you? How are you good? Yeah?
How's it affecting you your performance as mayor of Wearrington?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (29:17):
No?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Not at all.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Have you any neurological or congressive testing to prove that
you are there?
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (29:23):
You have, so I went through a full assessment.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
How did that go? But no, I mean you have
to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
No, no, no, no, it's fine. Like the more you
talk about it, right, the less stigma it has. It
really is just it identifies the way you process information,
which might be slightly different to other people. There's no
huge difference really, It just we just ensure that my day,
(29:50):
Like for example, you know, I had one day where
there were perhaps five one hour meetings and that's just
like a lot of time to spend on one topic.
We can you can get to the point a lot quicker.
We changed that out and we've made meetings thirty minutes. Unfortunately,
that meant I had ten meetings in one day, but
it was just so much better because it's like it's
(30:13):
like my brain needs information quickly and all the time.
So it is purely just changing the way that I
work and making it much more effective. It has absolutely
not impacted my performance whatsoever. If anything, I've become the
mayor because of this ability.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Are you still thinking now that of your diagnosis that
you'd still stand again as we.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I am one hundred percent standing and that's not changed
anything for it, not at all. It's just the only
thing that's changed is is like great. Now I can
take medication and I have even more energy to do
even more.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Okay, So you're on medication for it, yes, okay, and
it is.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Purely like an energy thing, fatigue whatever.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Now I can just like having a can of Red
Bull every day, exactly.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Watch out, Wellington.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Thank you, thank you for coming in. I appreciate you
taking the time, and I know it's not the easiest
thing in the world to come and get roasted, no questioned,
roasted and questioned on the state of our city. Thank
you very much. Torri mea Tory Faro for joining us
on Wellington Mornings.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk Said b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joining me in the studio is Wellington Mayor Torrifano Gyoda.
Good morning, Yoda. How are you very well? Had a
great weekend in Wellington? How was your weekend with weather?
Was beautiful?
Speaker 3 (00:23):
It was winter, yeah, yeah, and it was like that
last weekend two with Matariki. It's like winter and it's crisp,
but it's been sunny days. It's been quite nice, I
think for the city.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
How good was Maturiki?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Oh so good. So I had my whole family come
and stay with me. That's like seven people staying in
the house. It was quite a lot. And we went
down to Maria basically Mutdeye styles and we went down
on a sad day, got there at six. We were
there till nine because it.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Was just so close too early. It was nine too early.
A couple of people complained that it was too I
thought it was great.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
I thought it was great because we stayed there till
the end and it had really filtered out by then.
But it was a great way to go down and
look at a couple of things, have some dinner and
then and continue looking, but it was the projections on
Tipappa and the lagoon were just really.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Wonderful, spectacular, spectacular. Okay, that's a positive for this hour.
Let's get into the negatives. Oh, let's start with the
developments over the past few weeks. Yep, you're here just
a couple of weeks after three left wing counselors seriously
criticized your leadership. One of them, Green's nikl Wanera stood
(01:38):
with you on stage tonight you were elected, cuddling, holding
your hand, saying yes, this is all new, this is fantastic.
Now he wants no part in the direction of your leadership.
All three of these councilors believe you have portrayed your
progressive values by selling the airport shares and the long
term plan. How do you answer that criticism.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Look, I still have a good relationship with these guys,
to be honest, so we still have meetings behind the
sit They don't trust you, well, they say they don't,
but this is Look, this is all political theater. It
gets the headlines. It's all good. They are really unhappy
off the airport sale, and I completely understand that that
is something that they believe in deeply. But we've still
(02:22):
committed to working on other progressive policies. I met Niko
in particular, we met to go over some of his
priorities over the next few years, and I said I
would wholeheartedly support them. So look, it's just it's theater
around the airport's sale. I am confident we can continue
working together.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
What are you reckon's gone so wrong? For these three?
Ben McNulty, you're an Abraham Rahman and Nico were there
to be so I don't know aggressive. I mean, their
stand was pretty pretty out there. It wasn't like, yeah,
Torri is my buddy and we've had a bit of
a thought out. This is hey gone is yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, and look at it isn't history. That's certainly what
has been said. But I do not generally don't believe that.
I think I think this is the state of politics
at the moment. So if you look at central government,
you look at other councils around New Zealand, it is
becoming a lot more hostile and a bit more grand standing.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I would say, but these are your guys, these are
your team. They are so it's a little bit different
to say that.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
It is absolutely unusual. But if I recall when I
worked for the Green Party, James Shure, he had to
deal with this all.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
The time and they finally got rid of him.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
No, he left on his own.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
But you leave on your own, I mean, whether you
get it.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Was challenged, well, at least at least until he went
until but he chose to stand down because he didn't
he didn't want to continue after being the climate change minister.
He just had his time. But he dealt with these
challenges all the time because you have to make decisions
that are not necessarily popular with your people, but they
are the right thing to do.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Tell me. It was reported a couple of people reported
that it was suggest since of this criticism was these
three was obviously all men, was misogyny. Do you think
this is fair.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
That that criticism? Oh, I mean, not necessarily.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I don't think it's You don't think it was an
anti woman thingr No.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
No, no, no, no, no. I can I can see why
people might think that, because, as you say, the behavior
is unusual. But I don't in my heart believe that
the miss.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
How bitter and heated. I mean, we saw it on video,
but we really didn't know was the other meetings in
the council right now. How how sort of unconstructive is
that such a word? Are the council meetings right now
with the numbers not being on your side?
Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah, it's it has been challenging, you know, I'm not
going to pretend that it isn't. It's a shame because
when you look at the May thirtieth meeting, which was
the key meeting to decide what goes into the LTP,
that was so constructive and you had the majority of
people around the table behaving well. Every councilor got something
that they wanted in their LTP and it was quite
(05:12):
an excellent compromise what everyone involved.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
How strong are you on this airport sale thing? Because
it feels to me that this could be the straw
that breaks the camel's back for Torri Farner.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
I want to answer the last question first, can I?
And so there are moments of greatness when the council
can really come together and be collaborative, and that's something
I'll always strive for. But once the decisions are made,
that's when the political theater comes into play, because it's
kind of safe to do that. That's what we're seeing.
This is Wellington City where a political city. We're always
(05:46):
going to attract diverse councilors and I think this is
just probably quite typical of what you'll see on Wellington
City Council in regards to the airport. How committed am I?
I genuinely think it is the best option that we
have for now that fits into our financial strategy and
makes our long term plan sustainable, puts Wellington's city in
(06:07):
a safer place for when we experience a future disaster.
We've seen one up north, a climate related disaster happen.
They are becoming more frequent we need.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
We also saw a massive earthquake in christ Church. Massive
earthquake in question. The very first thing that was fixed
up was the airport and everyone knows that. So the
government aren't going to sit back and let the airport fall.
They're going to sort that out, So that argument doesn't
wash thin.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
But I meanful though, this is not the city we
need to rebuild a city. And yes a lot of
government funding went into christ Church, but to be a
good partner to central government, we can't just rely on
them to give us a massive handout should the worst happen.
Finances are really really tight, so we're doing our bit.
We do expect the government to help, but we can't
expect them to fund everything. So this is a good,
(06:54):
safe way to do self insurance could diversifire our portfolio.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Could this be Torri Farino's moment like Celia Wade Brown's
moment was on the Island based cycle way.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
I mean, I hope it isn't, because this is not
something I campaigned on. It's not something I'm passionate about.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
It's something you changed your tune on, though, It's.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Something I changed my tune on because I think that's
what good.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Sorry, I mean to point that was rudable, right, But I.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Changed my tune on it because I was presented with
information evidence and I.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
This Barbara Mchirott, No, No, is it Tim Brown? Who's
the power person behind this decision? It's like it's a
whole Come on, tell me who the power perpose someone?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
There is somebody, There's no one power person.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
There is a power person driving the sale.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
There is absolutely not, absolutely not. You're just making that up.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
How can I be making that up? When three people
that were your loyal lieutenants walked out on you. The
you had three theater, three broken marriages in one day.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Look, broken marriages happen all the time. It's fine, No,
this is Look, we were given a lot of information
by KPMG about the benefits of diversifying our portfolio. We've
been working really closely with our seeing.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
You went to k You went to KPMG and said,
is the money? Give me a report that only tells
me the positive thing. They didn't give you any negatives.
Their prerequisite was.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Negative because it showed us just what a tight situation
we were in and why we should consider selling the airport.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
So so what other alternatives did they give you? Well,
it was a long gap there.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Well, it's our biggest asset. It's either that or sell
our social housing.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
It's you know, a lot of people think that's a
good idea.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
No, you're the only person.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
I am not the only person wrong.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Maybe you and counselor Calvert are the only people I've
ever heard say that. And that's certainly not. That's not
enough for me to even consider that.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Really it should be.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Because two people think so.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
I think. I think it brings me more money and
it takes less stress, and we shouldn't be actually looking
after social housing when we've got a government does the
same job. We're competing against the government.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
The assumption that the government is willing to buy all
the stock off us, which they don't. They won't.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
All right, let's get back on track. We're starting to
put boxing gloves on instead of trying to work. Where
we go? Do you really think that the public, the
Wellington public support the sale of the airport cheese?
Speaker 3 (09:20):
If you go by our consultation, I believe it was
twenty percent that were opposed to it. The majority either
supported a sale or a partial sale or didn't really
have in opinion.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Do you believe that eighty percent of Wellington people wanted
the airport chairs sold?
Speaker 3 (09:35):
No, that's not quite. It's not quite eighty percent. I
would say over half of those who engaged in the
submissions support it.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
What do you think the Greens are thinking right now?
The Green power base, when they're thinking right now, what
do you think they're making your leadership? Given that the
party's manifesto is that assets should not be sold under
any circumstances, So what do you reckon they're thinking right now?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I'm sure they're disappointed.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
But did they cancel your membership again?
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Absolutely not. And I've had a lot of positivity from
the party actually, because the thing about the Greens is that,
yes that they are left wing, they care about climate
and social issues, but they were also pragmatists as do
you pay a tie.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
To the Green Party?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
No, okay, but that they're pragmatics, so they know that
the difficult situation that we're in when it comes to
our finances. So I've spoken to the co leaders, I've
spoken to other Green politicians, and while they're not enthusiastic
about the sale, they understand what I've had to do.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
How close did the long term plan come to failing?
How close do it?
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So we were at I believe it was nine votes
to seven, Yes, nine to seven, So it was tip.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Are you concerned slightly that your majority on the council
has been lessened and you're going to have a bit
of trouble over the next eighty months or do you
think you're need to get them back on board.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I'll get them, well, I'll get them back on board
with the right issues. So I think as it should
have always been, We're just going to have to vigorously debate,
question work through every issue by issue, and that's fine.
I genuinely believe that the three guys they are still
passionate about environmental and social issues, so they will vote
(11:17):
the right way when it comes to that.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Do you think Ben McNulty is going to run for
me a next election?
Speaker 3 (11:21):
I don't know. You'd have to ask him.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Well, do you know him? You know him pretty well,
do you think. I mean everyone seems to be stopping
me in the street and saying that, you know, that's
what he's got eyeing for. He tells me to my
face that he's not.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I I haven't heard that he is, to be honest,
but he might have other ambitions.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
And that's how are you going? How are you feeling
with all this? I mean, you've suddenly lost, you know,
three members of your fano.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
No, no, no, it's a look. It was a bummer
at first, and it's frustrating because you know, to get
the best things done you have to work as a
team and when when come some kind of go, you know,
go into a different direction. It makes things harder.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
But have you worked a little bit harder with some
of the other oppositions. Yes, I have. Yeah, I've heard
that too.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So is that working for it?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Well, not all the time, but it absolutely did. On
the May the thirtieth weekend, I think you may have
heard I have and went out for a cup of
tea with Nikola Young and.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
How was that?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
It's great? We had a good old laugh. So it's
actually as a result of that kind of deepened my
relationship with the other counselors, which I think is a
really positive thing. But I you know, for the rest
of this term, our meetings will continue to be challenging, robust.
There'll be theater because that's just Wellington City Council.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
I'm going to leave this now because I know I'm
sounding like a broken record. But is there any way
that the sale of the airport chairs won't go through?
And who's going to value the shares and who's going
to come up with the price of the shares and
how do we know we're going to get a good deal.
Speaker 3 (12:52):
So all of that work is going to be put
together and then come back to council in December.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Is there a chance that they'll come back and say
we're in a recession right now and the price we'll
get for our shares is not good enough. Shall we
just hold a couple of years? Possibly, So there's still
a possibility.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
In that December, meaning yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Okay, So it's not an absolute, it's.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Not a final final. I mean we again, we need
it to go through for our current long term plan
and for projects to start because it's all part of
one big package. But you know, we would absolutely take
certain things into consideration if the environment completely changed.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Okay, December, let's talk about your own Wellington residence survey. Now,
you do this every year, and we talked about it
last year, and we talked about it I think the
year before, and I've talked about it with someone every year.
So this is where you put your own survey out
there and ask people what they think of you and
what you what they want to see from their council.
Only fifty percent of Wellingtonians have pride in their city now,
that's down from eighty two percent in twenty nineteen. That's
(13:51):
a massive, massive figure.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Yeah, it is. And we know that things are really
difficult at the moment, and it's it's not actually that surprising.
So we are, you know, going through a transformational period.
There's construction all over the place that doesn't exactly set
people up for happiness, so to speak. It's always a
really deficate.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Oh, hit you with another figure. Thirty seven percent of
people think Central Wellington is lively and attractive. This figure
was eighty percent.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Nine.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
So first I want to say, you know, like the
survey is great because it does inform us and it
helps us prioritize certain projects more. We do know that
actually people were finding it easier to get around the
city because of cycling and public transport, and they love
our community facilities. That's great.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
However, we know that this and you're going to remember
that the buses we had no bus drivers when the
last time the survey was on. Now, I'm not taking
anything away from a positive. It was a positive, but
the last time they did the survey there was no
bus drivers, so we couldn't get anywhere on a bus. Yes,
so it had to get better.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Yes, well it's gotten better.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
Yes, it has got better, but.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
We know we have a lot of work to do,
especially when it comes to the city center is of
course city safety, so we have we are restarting a
couple of initiatives. So we're kind of redoing the poor
nicky promise thing and we've got it now, it's.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Why do you just chuck it out? It hasn't worked.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Well, it's why do you just chuck it Out's done
its dash In the first we restarting a city safety group,
so we've got all the the leaders involved in like
to order, the police, so forth, hospitality to actually have
some proper input into what the city safety needs to
look like. We've provided more funding about half a million
(15:32):
to go into these initiatives. And this plan will be
alongside our Courtney Place Precinct plan, which shall be a
key project of my business Advisory Group where we're going
to work together collaboratively on what that could look like.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Just about to rip the guts out of Courtney Place.
Let's be honest. You start at the end of the year. Yes,
all thoses go through. You're going to rip the absolute
guts out of Courtney Place.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
To talk, we do Courtney Place, that's correct.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
What's going to be left standing anyway?
Speaker 3 (15:56):
That we're going to be a brand new precinct, That's
what it's going to be.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Okay, what are they going to do with all the
old buildings along there because you can't change them there
by people? Yeah, Well, how can you say it's going
to be a brand new precinct when it's all down
all the way that all the way down both sides
of the streets is crappy old buildings.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I mean, it's amazing what you can do by redesigning
streets and making them much more pedestrian friendly, widening the
streets so you can have much more accessibility for outdoor
dining and all that stuff. But what it's missing our
activations And that's what we're working with this with the
Business Advisory Group on how can we activate activate the
(16:37):
space during that transition period. What sort of relief do
we need to provide businesses? But also once it's done,
how do we ensure.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
That it's actually okay. I want to stick to the
satisfaction because we'll come to others And I was the
one that asked that question, so I got on the
wrong one, not you. Satisfaction of Wellington City Council's performance
has fallen from thirty three percent to twenty nine percent.
That means out of ten people, seven people are dissatisfied
with the performance of Wellington City Council. Now you're the
mayor of the council. Do you take any responsibility for that?
Speaker 3 (17:05):
So I do. It is my responsibility and it's never
nice to hear those stats, but they were also again
not surprising. People are going to find it very difficult
to be satisfied with the council when you're going through
a disruptive period. And look, I've spoken about this a
couple of times. You know, all counselors can lift their
(17:26):
game in regards to their behavior and how they treat
other people. I think that has a real impact on
what people think of the council as well and how
we treat staff. So it's going to be a big
challenge for years to come.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Council CEO Barbara Maciro faced a lot of criticism last
month for introducing for introducing the policy that restricts councilors
access from information unless it's related to an incoming vote.
Upcoming vote, it left one councilor asking for information under
the official Information at Macarro later scrapped the policy after
the Minister of Local Government said it was appalling. Was
(18:02):
this ever acceptable to you?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Yeah, I mean the intention of the protocols were developed
to make it clearer and faster for counselors to access
confidential information. The way that it was put out was
an ideal and Barbara was one of the first to
actually admit that, you know, there had been a step missed,
and after speaking with myself and a couple of other counselors,
(18:28):
she did pull them. And as you know, she's working
on her way forward to work much more collaboratory, collaboratively
with counselors. So that particular situation, while not ideal, you know,
I I have confidence in Barbara and I know that
she'll continue to do it. She'll do the right thing.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Respected Wellington businessman and ex councilor Chris Parkin was on
the show saying that Barbara mccarro should be running the
city and that's the way CEO should work. Do you
think that Barbara mcciro should be running the city or
you as mayor should be running the city?
Speaker 3 (19:00):
She runs council, she has she has of a sight
of all the stuff, so of course she should run
that entire operation. It's up to myself as mayor and
the counselors to lead and govern the city. We make
the decisions, but essentially Barbara has to make sure that
it happens.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
How close are you to her, what's a relationship doing?
Speaker 3 (19:23):
We're really good?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Does she does? She rule the roosters? She got you
she got you, You're e it.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
No like it's it's a very it's a it's a
good trusting relationship and I think very highly of Barbara.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
How do you how do you react to the criticism
that people are putting out there that she she's sort
of got you under control?
Speaker 3 (19:44):
I mean, I think it's rubbish and it's just again,
what's so frustrating about, you know, being part of counsels.
It's just people just like to bag it all the time.
It's the scapeboat of everything that's wrong. There's an attempt
for to derail mine and Barbara's relationship. That's not going
to happen.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I think I think she'll be here after Do you
think she'll be here after February next year?
Speaker 3 (20:09):
I don't know. You'll have to ask her that.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
But you've already said you have a relationship with her,
or do I have a relationship with my producer. I
know whether he's going to be here in three months.
You don't know whether she's going to come back or not.
Well wants to renew.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
We haven't talked about it.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You've never spoken to her, I mean, only five months
away from maybe.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
We spoke a few months ago about this. And had
every intention of moving forward. So look, I haven't had
an update since then, but that would be completely her decision, a.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Natural progressor for her. Chevron Proctor's just resigned. Why is
she resigned? Where she going? What's she doing?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
I don't know, you do know? No, I don't know,
And actually I think it's I don't think it's appropriate
to actually just to name staffers apart from the CEO.
To name staff is to ask about their personal life
and what they're doing afterwards. That's none of our business.
I think what has frustrated me recently is just the
(21:07):
ease that people have to bring council staff into media
when that would never have happened there development, But.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
The public figures, no, they're not. Chevaughn Proctor is a
public person, she's not.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
She's a spokesperson for certain issues. But I think it's
deeply unfair for us to try and guess what she's
up to next. That's that's that's for people like myself
and other counselors to answer. So I don't. Look, I
just don't think it's appropriate to be discussing stuff.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
You don't think it's appropriate to be discussing whether you're CEO.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Who is a CEO is different? Is that that is
a you know, the CEO goes so you.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Never had a discussion with her, not knowing what she's
going to do in the future, and certainly what do
we now?
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Of course I have, I just haven't in the last
couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Okay, I've just got cramp and I think it's the
mayor's fault. Meya, Torrifano's in the studio with us taking
your calls. Paul, you have a question for meya Torrifano.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Yeah, how's it going on. I've got a rental and
Wontington in Allaid Road. The parking stuff there. Intendants can't
park anywhere, you know, if things are not broken, don't
fix them. You know, he's been really good Newsance wiped
out the park park there as well, you know, and
they'll probably get attacked and that would they have to
(22:21):
walk a lot far further further away as well where
I spoke spoke to you.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
What's your question, Paul? Can you give me a question
for the mayor? Please? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (22:30):
That that is?
Speaker 4 (22:31):
What are you going to do about the parking? It
is still my property is going to drop a value
be because of what you were doing.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Thank you, Paul.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
So there's been a you know, obviously a big, massive
project around the Newtown area to reprioritize a lot more
parking for residents, so residents should be able to apply
for a parking permit, more residents than before. And if
he's having any trouble with that, then he should let
counsel know.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Everybody's having trouble with that though, aren't they?
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Yeah, a little bit like because we a little bit well, okay,
so time we've decided time.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
And I'm not laughing at you. I'm just saying it's
more than a lay fine.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Look, it's a challenging issume. We know that not everyone's
going to be happy with it. We've made the decision
time and time again to start to reprioritize roads for
a mixture of parking as well as our bus lanes
as well as cycle ways. That unfortunately means removing some
car parks so that we have a mode for everyone.
So some people will be unhappy with that transition, but it.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Is what it is, okay, John, John, you have a
question for me a Torrifino.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
Yes, thanks for taking my call. When are you going
to clean up that mess and courtingly placed manustry all
those homeless people and it's a disgrace. I bought someone
into town from out of town the other week and
they said, never bring me back into Wellington again. They
used to live in Wellington.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Thanks John.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
So, as I mentioned kind of earlier in the show,
we've got two big projects. So now that we've got
the LTP done and dusted, we've added half a million
dollars in to the City Safety Initiative to work with
agencies to help get some of our people off the streets.
And then of course we've got the Golden Mile project
which will help redesign those streets as well. It is
(24:17):
a it's not an overnight fix. Those are both quite
lengthy issues, but those those are our key things to
clean up Courtney Place right.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
Thank you, Thanks for your questions. Oh one hundred and
eighty ten eighty. We have got time for another couple
of quick ones if you want to be quick, because
otherwise I get involved. And I asked my question super
city amalgamation. There's a meeting earlier this year of mayors
a potty to allow Upper Hut and yourself about the
amalgamation of the four councils into a supercity. According to reports,
(24:47):
three of the four mayors were on board with the discussion,
but you weren't. You don't think the supercity idea is
a good idea.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
I'm on board with it, and I said in that meeting,
I'm absolutely happy for the conversation to happen. I just
you know, I've been asked if it needs it should
happen before the next local body election. For that that
is too soon, because yeah, we've got big issues like
infrastructure to.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Why has it been reported so widely that you were
the one that wasn't interested.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
Because a lot of people like to blow what I
say out of proportion all the time.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
So do you think that that we have got because
I mean I get text too saying Wan Guppy doesn't
want it. You know, I get it all the time.
So do you think that if right now we could
get all four mayors in one room and they would,
you know, generally speaking beyond the same page with their amalgamation.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
In the longer term, not in the next half.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
In a long term, are we talking one or two
or three you know, election cycles.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
But perhaps the next cycle. But I think a piece
of work that needs to happen. First is getting the
public on board, what is the public value, making sure
that they understand why this needs to happen. At the moment,
it's just kind of like politicians in a room talking
about why this is a good idea. And I do
think we are generally on the same page, but we
really need to be engaging with the community.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Do you think that you're all on the same pager
Let's get it done or let's just look at it.
Speaker 3 (26:09):
Oh, I think a couple are probably more enthusiastic. It's
just look, my mind is much more focused on the
long term plan, infrastructure, the next election and ensuring that
we retain a Mary ward, and but absolutely very happy
to engage in this conversation and move it forward.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
Do we need I mean you mentioned it, not me,
the Maori contingent. When we've got us are elected Marii
Wahni as mayor, I mean it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
Yeah, but like I'm here to focus on the issue
of the city. The Marii ward is specifically focused on
the issue for Ewei Manafenoa and Marty, so I can't
do both. I think it would be too much to
expect me to do that.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Do you think we'll ever be in a situation in
New Zealand where we are voting on the person rather
than their ethnicity.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
I think we'll ever get to the situation where we
have enough Marie on the council or on within the
organization not to have to appoint specialists.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Do you think? I'm just asking, do you think we'll
ever be not anytime soon? You don't know.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
I don't like it was. It saddens me. And look,
I think Wellington is its own you know, we're quite different.
We're much more forward thinking and I think that it
won't be a problem here. But I think you know,
from what we've witnessed in other areas, I don't know,
Like I just it's a tricky, hostile time in communities
(27:43):
at the moment, whether it's race relations or other issues.
There are minimal protests, there are anti trans protests. It's
for felt the last couple of years or ever since COVID,
it's it's been quite unpleasant. And I think this is
part of that.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
And back to this to the super city. If we
could get a united front, surely that we be a
good thing for our region to be one very strong region.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Absolutely, and so it ensures things like you know, housing
intensification and transport and managing and infrastructure, managing those big
projects can be done a lot more seamlessly. So in
the long term absolutely makes sense.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
Do you know whether I mean and I don't know,
and I should know whether Lower Heart and Upperhart and
pottyt Or have got their own city councilors have got
their own social housing as well?
Speaker 3 (28:33):
No, I don't.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
No, I don't either, So I mean I should know
that because that would be one way of getting rid
of all the social housing when the super city came in.
I'm not pushing that barrow. I just think you are.
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Well.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
I'm pushing the barrow because I think it's silly that
we have two separate identities fighting for the same business.
That's what I think. And I think if we're ever
going to clean up and make some money, and it's
a loss making thing for the council, and I'm about
making the council not put up the rate so much. Okay.
I want to finish off Tory with something you revealed
to news Talks. Here'd be last month that you've been
diagnosed with ADHD. And have significal and traits of autism.
(29:09):
How's that all affecting you? How are you good? Yeah?
How's it affecting you your performance as mayor of Wearrington?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Is it?
Speaker 2 (29:17):
No?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Not at all.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
Have you any neurological or congressive testing to prove that
you are there?
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (29:23):
You have, so I went through a full assessment.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
How did that go? But no, I mean you have
to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
No, no, no, no, it's fine. Like the more you
talk about it, right, the less stigma it has. It
really is just it identifies the way you process information,
which might be slightly different to other people. There's no
huge difference really, It just we just ensure that my day,
(29:50):
Like for example, you know, I had one day where
there were perhaps five one hour meetings and that's just
like a lot of time to spend on one topic.
We can you can get to the point a lot quicker.
We changed that out and we've made meetings thirty minutes. Unfortunately,
that meant I had ten meetings in one day, but
it was just so much better because it's like it's
(30:13):
like my brain needs information quickly and all the time.
So it is purely just changing the way that I
work and making it much more effective. It has absolutely
not impacted my performance whatsoever. If anything, I've become the
mayor because of this ability.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Are you still thinking now that of your diagnosis that
you'd still stand again as we.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I am one hundred percent standing and that's not changed
anything for it, not at all. It's just the only
thing that's changed is is like great. Now I can
take medication and I have even more energy to do
even more.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Okay, So you're on medication for it, yes, okay, and
it is.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Purely like an energy thing, fatigue whatever.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Now I can just like having a can of Red
Bull every day, exactly.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Watch out, Wellington.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
Thank you, thank you for coming in. I appreciate you
taking the time, and I know it's not the easiest
thing in the world to come and get roasted, no questioned,
roasted and questioned on the state of our city. Thank
you very much. Torri mea Tory Faro for joining us
on Wellington Mornings.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live
to news talks It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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