September 16, 2024 • 32 mins
- Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says she’s not spending at the moment because of the cost of living crisis
- She says her mortgage rates have doubled in the past few years and she recently sold her car to help pay the bills
- The mayor recently received a 3.7% pay rise, taking her annual salary to $189,799
- She’s acknowledged things are “really tough” in Wellington at the moment
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has acknowledged the economic challenges facing residents in the capital, saying she’s “feeling the crunch” too and recently sold her car to help pay the bills.
The mayor’s annual salary has increased to $189,799 following a 3.7% pay rise in July. She also won $1.4 million through Lotto in 2002.
Job cuts in the public sector and a string of retail and hospitality closures have once again sparked conversation about whether Wellington is “dying”.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills, Whanau acknowledged things were “really tough” currently.
“We are feeling a bit low at the moment, we’ve been hit by a number of things. Obviously, the economic downturn, public service cuts, the cost of living, people aren’t spending money and that is showing up in closures and whatnot.
“But what I want to say right now is yip, let’s acknowledge that it’s tough. I don’t want us to talk us further into doom and gloom.”
When pressed by Mills about whether she “actually feels it” - the financial pressure - Whanau said she did.
“I don’t want to downplay the privilege that I have. I am the mayor of the city, I have a house and I’m very thankful for that.
“However I’ve just sold my car recently to kind of help pay the bills, I walk to work again, my mortgage rates have doubled in the past few years. So I’m feeling the crunch as well, but I also recognise the privilege that I have.”
When questioned further by the Herald Whanau declined to say what type of car it was beyond a “hatchback”. She said the sale had taken place “a few months ago”. She also pointed out she had recently moved into a townhouse in the city.
Whanau said as well as her mortgage rates doubling, she had also had to make some “adjustments to her lifestyle”.
“I.e. do nothing in terms of socialising and stuff. I can’t spend at the moment because of the cost of living crisis like many others.”
Mills questioned how that was going to help struggling businesses and Whanau agreed it wouldn’t, but said it was an issue facing people across the country due to job losses and high interest rates.
She said every time she sees a business close she thinks, “Oh man, what could we have done?”
Whanau said the biggest issue for businesses in Wellington seemed to be less foot traffic and less spend, which she felt had been accelerated by public sector cuts.
She was confident the council’s long-term plan would revitalise the city over the next few years.
In the short term, Whanau said she was working with businesses to have more parklets in the city, host a New Year’s Eve festival, and was speaking with local designers to hold a fashion event to raise awareness of their brands following the cancellation of this year’s New Zealand Fashion We
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks at b.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We are live in the studio Wellington Mornings with Wellington
Mayor Corey Farno. Good morning, Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm great? How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm great?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
You look great, you look well, you look healthy, you
look well.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
I feel healthy and well. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
That's a great start. I want to start by asking
you something that got talked about in a little chat
that I was having yesterday. You went to the King
Tahiti funeral. Yes, did you go representing Wellington or did
you go representing the Greens?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I went representing Wellington and I had a council staff
with me, who's you know, who takes care of our
EWE relationships as well, and he I think it was
going to go, but I in the end I ended
up walking on with the Greens.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah. That was that surprised a few people, Yeah, because
they felt that you were introduced to the Tonguey as
you know, a Green person that is also mayor of Wellington.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, I mean it was both of those. I would say, right.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Did other mayors go up go to the Tonguey and
go as a group of mayors.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
So to my knowledge, Mokor from the far north wind.
I don't think any other mayors went so I think
usually I could have perhaps gone on with a local
government contingent, but I don't believe there was one, and
I didn't want to go on by myself, so I
went on with the Green Party in the end.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But it was very much that you were part of
the Greens present. Are you Are you happy with that?
Are you?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Okay, I am okay with that?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
All right, I want to talk about the mood of
the city. Yes, there's been a lot of talk in
the past few years about the mood of the city.
Right now, we're we are hitting the headlines for all
the wrong reasons. Shops, businesses down, problems. I mean, how
what's your grasp of it right now as you go
into your office?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, So absolutely we are feeling a bit
low at the moment. So we've been hit by a
number of things. Obviously the economic downturn, public service cuts,
cost of living and people aren't spending money and that
has shown up enclosures and whatnot. So it is really
tough at the moment. But what I kind of want
(02:34):
to say right now is let's acknowledge that it's tough.
I don't want us to talk us further into I
think we're doing that. I think we are. I think
there's a little bit of that. There's some legitimate concerns
that people have, but the reality is, you know, we
do have a long term plan that will revitalize the
(02:55):
city over the next few years. In the short term,
we're working with local businesses to approve more parklets, to
have a New Year's Eve festival, and working with I've
spoken to some local designers, Wellington fashion designers, and then
in the absence of Fashion Week, can we do a
(03:15):
fashion event in Wellington as well to you know, create
awareness of their brands. So I think we Yes, things
are tough, but we really have to work together. You
feel us on solutions?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Do you feel? I mean you get your salary and
you get your car, and you get all the purpose.
I mean that's fine, and that's great and you deserve it.
I'm not time to take anything away from that, but
do you actually feel what we as Wellington is a
feeling right now?
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Look, I don't want to downplay the privilege that I have,
right so I am the mayor of the city. I
have a house and I'm very I'm very thankful for that. However,
I've just sold my car recently to kind of help
pay the bills, and I walk to work again, and
my mortgage rates have doubled in the last in the
(04:01):
last few years, so I'm feeling the crunch as well.
But i also recognize the privilege that I have.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Okay, how much do you think that the council needs to,
I don't know, take responsibility for the way that we're feeling.
Do you think the council is starting to fight and
not get on and.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Do you think that the yes, I do, I do
like I think we're all responsible, right and we all
need to play a part in making creating a better city.
I don't think the in fighting with counselor's helps at all.
I don't think some sets that some things that are
said in public are useful or sometimes true, and we
(04:40):
all have a responsibility to serve our people and find
the best solution for them. I don't think everyone is
doing that at all times.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I had an experience personally in business that I was
having a problem with I was getting nowhere with the
council and I went to a council person and said,
I've got this problem. It's not working and I'm getting
very concerned. Within twenty four hours it was sorted. Should
it have to be that? Should it have to be
that we go to our count because our council employees
(05:12):
people working for us and not doing their jobs efficiently
as they should be. No.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
I definitely like things to be much more efficient. It's
difficult because we are constrained by legislation. And I'm assuming
you're talking about licensing and consents, so because that's an
independent body and when we're getting mass applications for consents,
it has to be managing it in a certain way,
(05:36):
you know, for you to kind of get fast tracked,
like I'm happy for you, but you're right.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I definitely wasn't fast tracked. I mean, I've been waiting
months and months. This is like getting to know so
out of desperation. It wasn't like, hey, I'm on radio,
I can get this thing. Yeah, definitely hadn't.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
For sure. I would love for it to be faster
and more consistent. It would take a change in legislation.
It would take you know, someone a local MP, the
government to start work on this. It doesn't seem to
be a priority at the moment, but you know, I
would love.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
It to be. Do you actually sit back and think,
and you don't come from a business background, you come
from a political background, do you actually sit back and
think and say, gosh, when you've had ten businesses closing,
do you think we could have done more? Do you
ever stop and think like that? Or does a counsel
and sit there and think what could we have done?
Make it better?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Of course? Of course you know there's a there are
a lot of people at council, including myself that whenever
I see a business close, I do go oh oh man,
you know, like what could we have done? And I
think have.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
You ever run? Have you ever got your staff to
say give me the owner of that place? I want
to actually just rang them and see what's going on.
Have you ever done that or thought about Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Yeah, I've actually talked to a number of business owners
who are willing to talk, as well as my meroral
business group. And the biggest, the biggest not comp but
the biggest issue seems to be less foot traffic, less
spend and that has really accelerated after the thousands of
public service comes so.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
On Monday, we have a business panel. Every couple of
weeks we get a couple of business people in it
and I said to them on the show, what do
you think the council could do? We were talking about
the money you're looking at giving. Yeah, yeaham Thornton, what
do you think the council could do to help business?
And straight away bang they said, cut the red tape.
Both of them said, cut the red tape. Make it easier,
(07:37):
welcome us, make you know, get your documentation done quicker.
Is that a complaint that you hit.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Not directly, but if that comes up as a big
priority that businesses would like us to focus on as
part of us working with businesses moving forward, I will
absolutely do that. Again. It's frustrates me too that the
legislation makes it so constrained, but I would love to
be able to make it easier.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Can you do any think is mayor to to change that?
Can you go to the local politicians? I mean there's
a lot said on this show that you don't have
a relationship with the government, that you know, you're in
different camps with the government. Does that make it more
difficult for you?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
No?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I think because the ministers and MPs. At the end
of the day, even though we have differing politics, they're
still professional and constructive. So if I request a meeting,
I get a meeting. I've worked really well with people
like Minister Pink, Minister Bishop and you know me and
me and the Prime Minister. Have you know where we're productive.
(08:43):
We are very polite to each other.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
What about your relationship with Simmy and Brown? How's that
it's constructive?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
We're not besties, but where we have a constructive relationship
and I do point back to he does listen. Like
I know that him and I differ significantly when it
comes to transport, but I was able to meet with
him and basically request can I please keep the Golden
mile or get rid of this? Is that I won't
make a fuss, and he did. He listens. So that
(09:11):
proves to me that actually we can be really constructive together.
We just politically think very differently.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Politically think very differently. Does that end up hurting us
as Wellingtonian?
Speaker 3 (09:21):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
You don't think that that them not feeling that you're
on board with their idealisms helps us or hinders us?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Well, I would hope not. I think they would be
irresponsible if that was the case. That's not what I'm
doing and I would hope that's not what they're doing
as well.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
So back to just really quickly, because I got to
go for an ad break. Do you believe that Wellington
City Council as a group that you're part of, you're
only one vote in, you're the mayor and I get
all that stuff before you come back with me at it?
Do you think there is more that can be done
by our group of leaders in this city to get
us out of the quagmire that we're currently in.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Absolutely, but I think it requires me, It requires our counselors,
It requires our local MPs and the government working together.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Tory Faro Wellington Mayor in the studio with us Tory
the issue of businesses. I want to sort of elaborate
on this a bit more. You brought the idea to council.
It was your idea of offering fifty I don't know
whether you came up with the actual amount, but offering
fifteen hundred dollars micro grants the business affected by the
works on Thornton Key. Council staff are currently investigating the idea.
(10:28):
Where did firstly, where did the fifteen hundred dollars come from?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
That came from council offices based on what we had
in the budget and what we could actually afford without
having to increase rates or make any changes to the
long term plan.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Did you is that you come up with you had
a figure of like fifty fifty thousand dollars or something.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Again, something like that.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Yeah, yeah, you could just give it. Do you feel
that was almost insulting? I mean, we actually thought about it.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
When I thought about it, what I really want to
emphasize is that I know it will never be enough
for a lot of businesses, but I hope that people
see it as the beginning of us looking into the
best ways we can help businesses. I have seen a
couple of businesses speak publicly and say it means everything
to them. Well, some it means nothing, and that's fine,
(11:18):
but it is the start, you know. I totally hear
you about the consent process red tape being exhausting and frustrating.
We'll look into that as well.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Is there something that actually can make this project better
for the businesses rather than just fifteen hundred bucks.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Well it's either that or nothing. We can't pause the project.
We can't pause the project because that would lead to,
you know, pausing a particular contract itself ends up being
thousands of dollars a day, so you'd just end up
delaying the project and adding a few million dollars onto
the tab.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
What about the opposite that speeding it up? Could we
put more resources into make it quicker?
Speaker 3 (11:55):
That's a really great question. My understanding is no, but
it could be. It could. Yeah, let me take that away.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, we're going to talk about the Golden Mile soon,
but is it something that you're going to consider for
the Golden Mile giving businesses that are affected by that?
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Ye?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Grant yes, because I would have thought, and I'll be
one of those people affected by that if they rang
up and sent me you only in the front of
your restaurant and your bars all being dug up and
you can't get people in there, We're going to give
you fifteen hundred dollars. I'm going to say, is that
a day? Because that's basically.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Okay, would you rather than nothing?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I would absolutely rather nothing, because I reckon and I've
done the figures. Yep, I've done the figures based on
opening a new business there. I think it's going to
cost me between twenty five and forty thousand a week. Yep.
And so fifteen hundred dollars ain't going to do much.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I know, but we don't have the money. We don't
have the rate payer money to give you forty thousand
a week. And look, I'm really sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So but generally you're sorry, No I.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Am, I'm legit sorry about that. So look, we'll look
at things like grants. We'll also look at you know,
what we're doing with the Meryoral Business Group is creating
many more activations to actually bring the foot traffic to
the city and know that the businesses are there.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Can I suggest that there'll be businesses in Thornton right
now that those figures that I've bandied around will be real.
There'll be business in Thornton right now that are losing
between twenty five and forty grand possibly more a week. Yes,
When is somebody going to take some accountability and realize
that by hurting these businesses it's not great for our city.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
As I said, I can't give every business forty grand
a week. That's just not feasible and I don't think
And the thing is, you know, you get people saying
is now the right time or should should we just
pause the project or should we give it up? The
(13:54):
same people are complaining about how our city is dying
and it hasn't been updated. The thing is, we need
to keep our infrastructure, our public transport, our city streets
modern and up with the times to create a really solid,
vibrant city.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
And I get that. As a business that's affected by it,
I get that, yes, and I have been really harsh
in my job and publicly about the fact that what
it's going to do for me personally. But now I'm
thinking for the betterment of our city. So we've got
to do this stuff. We do have to, So how
can we actually make it work so those small businesses
right along the Golden MILEEP do not have to close
(14:36):
for you to be able to have the end result. Correct,
that's what we've got to aim for.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
I think, well, I think that's where we us, local
businesses and the government need to work together here. So
we I think, as you said, we agree we need
this to create a vibrant city. The money that council
can give to these businesses is far from enough. We
can work with central government to improve that. Consent process,
and I'm also keen on what else we can do
(15:03):
if could make our works faster. Look, I'll ask officers.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Someone suggested to me yesterday, what about the council saying
to the property owners, will reduce the rates well of
your business, because remember, these people are paying rates and
they're not getting the use out of their building. So
what about the situation where you take the rates off
the buildings on the proviso that that is handed down
(15:28):
to the business.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Okay, I'll go and ask officers that. And I think
what we'll also look at is how the downtown levy
is used as well.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Right, Okay, since you were last in Tory, though, Warrington
residents have started to receive their days as tax bills
and they're huge. Then we see rate bills. Did I
say rate bills? Sorry? Rates bills? Yeah, tax and rates
all the same money. And we saw a great story
from the Herald yesterday looking how rates will increase over
(15:57):
the next four years. Do you actually really really understand
the pertin pain vulnerable pace people like pensioners are receiving.
I get it all the time. It's tough for them.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
It is tough. I know it is. And look, I'm
not proud of having to increase rates this much, but
it is consistent. It's a consistent issue across the country.
You know, many councils, including our own, haven't underinvested in
things like water, earthquake prone buildings and many other things
(16:34):
that we have to pay for it.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Now, can you tighten your belt? Can you save more money?
Because you know, I looked at there's a great thing.
I don't know whether you did it on the here
or whether you actually did the pole of the thing
yourself and looked at it and saw what your house
is going to be rates in four years time, but
mine worked out to be three hundred and thirty five
dollars a week seventeen thousand a year. Now, I can't
(16:57):
afford to live in my house that with the rates
of that high.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
This is so you know, when you look at our
long term plan is what people have asked for. This
is how much it costs. And unfortunately a big chunk
of that long term plan is also water infrastructure. As
we know it has to be dealt with.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
But the government have come up with their new plan
and that's going to save you know, help you and
save it.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
It really doesn't it doesn't.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
So so the new plan from from the government for
their water done better doesn't save you anything.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Not not currently. I mean we're still developed, developing the
legislation which will hopefully be done next year. We are
working on a regional model and the best one that
will you know how power rate payers. But essentially we're
still paying for water and pipe replacement at the end
of the day, and so we have had to put
in one point eight billion dollars into a long term plan.
(17:54):
As far as we know.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
We're still doing big ideas, aren't we. We're still spending big.
We're doing the Golden Mile. We're still spending we are
when we really we I I mean you might be
able to afford it. I can't afford those rape So
if I'm speaking for myself, I'm speaking for hundreds of
thousands of Wellingtonians.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
But like we discussed before, we have to upgrade our
city otherwise it does sort of die away. And that
that is why things like Thornton Key and the Golden
Mile are really important projects. We know that Courtney Place
needs a lot of work. Unfortunately, it just costs money
and this is what people have asked for.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Does it actually affect you at all. When you do
you do, or you probably get it online because you're
a modern woman. But when you look online and see
your rates builder, you go, holy hell, I got to
find that every week. Is it like that for you
as well? Personally?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Yeah, I mean so as well as my mortgage rates doubling,
and you know, I've had to make some adjustments to
my lifestyle. I do nothing in terms of socializing and stuff,
and I look at my rates.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
It doesn't help the economy going out and spending money.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Well, maybe that's why it's gone down, but look, it's
I don't spend at the moment because of the cost
of living crisis like many others.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And surely we shouldn't have to live like that. Surely
we should be able to live where we go out
once a week and we spend money and.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
We doing I totally agree. But as we know, this
is what the issue is country wide, you know, because
of increased interest rates, because of layoffs from from our
public service.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So I tend I'm sort of going to argue a
little bit with this one because Auckland under Wayne Browne.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
There increases their water infrastructure has dealt with in a
completely different way to what we are.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
So he's do our residents care where our water structure
is sorted out or do they care that what they pay?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
You?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Sorry, ask you?
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Well, I'm saying that, you know, we don't really care
that Auckland's water things are taken in, but they don't
have to pay for it, That's what I'm saying. Well,
why do we.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Because they've they've had that structure as a super city
set up in advance and the government has helped them.
We're not getting the same help currently.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Why not?
Speaker 3 (20:06):
You'll have to ask the government.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Well, Prime Minister is in here on Thursday morning.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
I mean that's why I was so supportive of three
water reform under the previous government, because it was going
to make it easier on the rate payers.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
So I'm going to ask you that question. Under three
if we had a labor government right now we had
three waters, would my rates still be going up as
much as they are. No, So I would have been
able to save money.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Yes, it's a simple as that, considerable man.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yes, really, it's.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
As simple as that. This is why we were so supportive,
but it got taken over by politics, but actually would
have had a significant impact on our rates.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
You know what sort of percentage we would have been
better off.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Oh, maybe a few percent, but I would have to
go back and ask. But it has so because we've
had to cancel and undo it and now spend a
couple of years setting up a new regional model, it
has impacted our rates bill.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Do you think that we're as rate payers and you're
included in this, are actually getting a fair deal.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
I am still disupported that that Three Waters didn't go through.
As a ratepayer, this.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Is the first time we've ever heard this.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
It's been public for years that.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
That three Waters would have saved my rates.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Yeah, and yeah, and what have Well? Absolutely, this is
this is why so many of us, especially local councils,
were so pushy about it, because you end up using
different financing tools to pay for that water infrastructure. It's
off our balance sheet, which means we have a far
less debt and our rates would have been lower. So
(21:41):
this this is why that has been so disappointing. It's
not clear right now with the current water orform program
of the current government whether that will have the same impact.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And you think it could have been as much as
three or four percent, Yes, that would have been I
do taken off our rates if I do.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
That was the main purpose of three Waters.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Three weeks ago the Prime Minister Christopher Hickson Christopher Laxon
talking about before stood in Taquina and Lambastard councils for
excessive spending all around New Zealand. And he wasn't picking
on you, although I believe he's looking straight at you
when he was talking about it. We hear about then
we hear the very next day, I think it was
the very next day, wasn't it. We heard a few
(22:22):
days later a five hundred and fifty thousand dollars bike
rack on a lane off the terrace. That seems like
an unfathomable amount. And every time we talk you say
we're tightening our belts, but then we hear stories like that.
I mean, you surely can't be even slightly relaxed about
(22:45):
spending five hundred and fifty thousand dollars on a bike reck.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
I'm not relaxed. That was too much for a bike rack,
and it certainly exceeded the sides on that that you
know it has offices and.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Surely someone should get fired over it.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Then that's not for me to say.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
What it is for say you're un he here, I
need you to go Donald Trump on us, I need
you to go on your fire.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I'm not going to do that. It's not It's not
for me to go and bully staff into.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
I didn't say bully. I just said you made a mistake.
You're fired.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
No, but imagine if you're in that team and you
hear the may As saying someone needs to be fired.
That is quite, you know, really disempowering to hear. There's
a there's a lot of great stuff.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
This is where our issue as a city I believers
and Barbara mccaroy must take some responsibility for it. But
we your counsel, our council, because we voted everyone and
you know, think about a bike rack and they can
spend that sort of money, they're in the wrong job.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Look, I will say a mistake was made with the
bike rack. It should never have cost that much. But
at the end of the day, bike rakes are incredibly
important moving forward, We're going to make sure that never happens.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Again, no question.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Let me finish, Please, let me finish. And we're going
to start using which will be more cost effective, things
like Lucky Docky and working in partnership with them because
they're incredibly popular across the city as well.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Give me twenty five thousand plus GST and I'll build
you the bike wreck. Anytime you need a bikeereck from
now on you've got my number. Ring men say can
you build them? I can. I'll build them for twenty
five grand. I'll build you a bike wreck. You know
really well, I built one for my kids thirty years
ago and it didn't cost me twenty five grand. You know,
I mean, can our council manage money directly?
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Can?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
So when you think about our multi billion dollar budget,
this is like a small mistake in the widest scheme
of things, and I admit that.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
But how many other small mistakes have we got? And
you know, my mother used to say to me, look
after the penny and the pounds will look after themselves.
If we start by being a little bit more cost careful,
surely our rates could come down.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
It would have no impact on rates. That little mistake.
But look, we you know it'll never happen again. It'll
never happen again.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
But there's a little tiny bit of deja vu, and
that too, because we do have we do hear them
and it's not your I know you the mayor, but
it's not your responsibility. How you know, Barbara kerro Is
the CEO. Have you got anyone lined up for that job?
Speaker 3 (25:18):
By the way, we're still going through the recruitment process.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
You must have you had a couple of cvs that you.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Looked at, but we're not. We're not at that stage.
And actually it has to be quite a tight process.
No one can approach me and try to influence the
process at all. It's quite Yeah, we're having an independent
person managing the entire thing.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Okay, the council has already passed its ten year plan,
but it looks like the up it's coming a little
bit unstuck, isn't it. I mean, a majority of councils
no longer want to support the sale of the Wellington
City Council's airport shares and the government has passed the
local Water done well planned, So first off, let's have
a look at the ten year plan. But we'll go
first off, the sale of the council shares in the
(25:59):
airport is dead in the water. So if this vote
happened today, what happens then?
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Look, I don't know how the votes would fall.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
But let's just say, let's say you haven't got the majority, Gaina.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Okay, So we won't know for sure what the outcome
will be until the tenth of October. So because that's
what officers are doing, they're preparing the advice to outline
and articulate the impact that that would have. But what
we heard before we decided the LTP from officers is
that if the share, if the sale fails, that means
(26:33):
we lose our form of self insurance. We would need
to make it up elsewhere, and that is approximately four
hundred million dollars from our wider programs. So it is likely,
although we won't know till the tenth of October, we'll
need to make.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
What you got telling you.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
I would hope, I genuinely hope that once counselors see
the negative impact that this will have on the entire
long term plan, that they'll vote for the best interests
of Wellington, which is to keep it going.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
But we know that that's on paper is not the
way it's going to go.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
No, we don't know that.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
I think do you think things have changed in the
last since the last time we spoke?
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Yeah? No, I think I think including those who have
moved the nom and those who have signed it. I
really don't think they truly understand the impact that this
would have.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Or you can say the converse to that, and you
don't really understand or your group don't understand the consequences
of selling those shares.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
No, we do know. We've received you know, a year,
more than a year filled with advice, filled with consultation,
where majority support this sale. We are doing right by
you really.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Think that the majority of Walentonians want to sell the shares?
Speaker 3 (27:47):
That's what we've received through consultation only about I think
it was twenty three percent who opposed, and the rest
either supported it, support partial or didn't know.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
They must be moving in the wrong circle. So I've
never heard anybody say this is a good idea.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
You must be But that's the information that we have.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Yeah, okay, so you think you've still got a chance
for it to go through?
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Yes, I do.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
And what happens if it doesn't?
Speaker 3 (28:12):
If it starts again, we have to start again, and
we'll have to What does that likely have to start again?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
What does that look like in real terms? You must
have thought about that.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Yeah, No, I've totally thought about it, so again, we
won't know for sure until the tenth of October, but
what it looks like is that we need to go
up for consultation again, which will happen over the next year,
and we need to consult on a four hundred dollars
million cut from our program and getting getting input from
the public on what that cut looks like.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Well, if a more mayor, Torri Fano is in the
studio with us, we've got a couple of questions. Trevor,
you have a question for meyor Tory fun.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Yeah, Tori, how are you?
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Hey?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Good?
Speaker 3 (28:48):
How are you good?
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Thanks for putting yourself out in the public like today.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
Two.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
But hey, look, I'm just wondering, have you ever thought
about maybe putting a parking meter on that that cycle
parking cycle thing that you've put there you said was
a mistake, cost too much. I mean, if you just
got one parking meter there of some sort, so I
presume you're thinking that it's going to be full most
of the time. There's eighteen parts here for the bikes,
(29:18):
one not the little meter there, so they pay, And
why don't cyclists have to pay for parking?
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Good question, I'll pass it on to the bike team.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Very good question. Trevor surprised me with that question. Why
don't push bikes they called push bikes anymore? Are they?
Why don't bikes don't park?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, you don't think they're called push bike? Dean, good morning.
You have a question for me, Tory fund it?
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Yeah, good a Tory and I'm a cyclist. I can't
stand the cycle lanes and things that are going around
the place. But my question is about Thornton Key. How
much is it costing and what's the point.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
So Thornton Key, I think it's around about oh gosh,
I'd have to look back at the maybe one p forty.
The point of it is to create to make it
safe for various forms of transport, whether it's car, cycle,
and making buses faster. It's really disruptive now, but in
(30:19):
the end it's going to just make it much smoother
and safer to get down there, whether you're a cyclist
or not, but also ensure that there's less congestion. That million, sorry,
seventeen million.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Is that one hundred and forty million?
Speaker 3 (30:32):
No, no, no, I got that confused with the Golden Mile.
So seventeen million seventeen million.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
There you go, Dean. Hopefully that was good enough for you.
I just want to wrap the show with asking you
about the Golden Mile. Is everything still on track? Are
we starting in a later part of the share and
the business haven't the businesses down there haven't put you
off anymore.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
I believe it's actually January into January that it's starting,
and nope, we're still proceeding.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Okay, And the budget is still the same for that,
still the same, because I'm hearing rumors that it's going
to cost the hell of a lot more. Is that not?
Am I just hearing rumors? Is that just scare people?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
I think it's just scam angering. If it did increase more, look,
we just couldn't pay for that. So we're sticking to
the budget.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
So this is this contract for this job, unlike one
in town Hall and the library and stuff, although the
library I believes on budget. But so this is a
fixed term contract we don't have that we can't pay
anymore for.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Yeah, I believe so that either way, we're not expecting
a cost blow out on this one, and we're not
expecting any more cost blow outs with other buildings as well,
because of the way that they're managed now.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Could it have been put off just for a couple
of years to let everyone get a breather after what
we've all been through. Could have that been done feasibly
or not?
Speaker 3 (31:47):
Ah well, So what we did instead was pause the
Lampton Key part off because that was a strong request
from retailers. So we've done that by about three or
four years. But if we paused this part further, we
we're at risk of losing the funding and just I think,
just kind of delaying the inevitable. And people don't feel
(32:10):
comfortable down there at the moment, even though I still
think Courtney Place is great and I love all the
places down there, but it really is time for a
revitalization of that area.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Thank you very much for coming in, Tory. It's always
really good for our people to be able to listen
to you and for you to come in and front
up and take your questions. I appreciate it. Thanks for
all you do. Thank you for having me wanting to
met Tori Faro.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
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 Talks at b.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
We are live in the studio Wellington Mornings with Wellington
Mayor Corey Farno. Good morning, Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
How are you?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm great? How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm great?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
You look great, you look well, you look healthy, you
look well.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
I feel healthy and well. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
That's a great start. I want to start by asking
you something that got talked about in a little chat
that I was having yesterday. You went to the King
Tahiti funeral. Yes, did you go representing Wellington or did
you go representing the Greens?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
I went representing Wellington and I had a council staff
with me, who's you know, who takes care of our
EWE relationships as well, and he I think it was
going to go, but I in the end I ended
up walking on with the Greens.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah. That was that surprised a few people, Yeah, because
they felt that you were introduced to the Tonguey as
you know, a Green person that is also mayor of Wellington.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Yeah, I mean it was both of those. I would say, right.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Did other mayors go up go to the Tonguey and
go as a group of mayors.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
So to my knowledge, Mokor from the far north wind.
I don't think any other mayors went so I think
usually I could have perhaps gone on with a local
government contingent, but I don't believe there was one, and
I didn't want to go on by myself, so I
went on with the Green Party in the end.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
But it was very much that you were part of
the Greens present. Are you Are you happy with that?
Are you?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Okay, I am okay with that?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
All right, I want to talk about the mood of
the city. Yes, there's been a lot of talk in
the past few years about the mood of the city.
Right now, we're we are hitting the headlines for all
the wrong reasons. Shops, businesses down, problems. I mean, how
what's your grasp of it right now as you go
into your office?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, So absolutely we are feeling a bit
low at the moment. So we've been hit by a
number of things. Obviously the economic downturn, public service cuts,
cost of living and people aren't spending money and that
has shown up enclosures and whatnot. So it is really
tough at the moment. But what I kind of want
(02:34):
to say right now is let's acknowledge that it's tough.
I don't want us to talk us further into I
think we're doing that. I think we are. I think
there's a little bit of that. There's some legitimate concerns
that people have, but the reality is, you know, we
do have a long term plan that will revitalize the
(02:55):
city over the next few years. In the short term,
we're working with local businesses to approve more parklets, to
have a New Year's Eve festival, and working with I've
spoken to some local designers, Wellington fashion designers, and then
in the absence of Fashion Week, can we do a
(03:15):
fashion event in Wellington as well to you know, create
awareness of their brands. So I think we Yes, things
are tough, but we really have to work together. You
feel us on solutions?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Do you feel? I mean you get your salary and
you get your car, and you get all the purpose.
I mean that's fine, and that's great and you deserve it.
I'm not time to take anything away from that, but
do you actually feel what we as Wellington is a
feeling right now?
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Look, I don't want to downplay the privilege that I have,
right so I am the mayor of the city. I
have a house and I'm very I'm very thankful for that. However,
I've just sold my car recently to kind of help
pay the bills, and I walk to work again, and
my mortgage rates have doubled in the last in the
(04:01):
last few years, so I'm feeling the crunch as well.
But i also recognize the privilege that I have.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Okay, how much do you think that the council needs to,
I don't know, take responsibility for the way that we're feeling.
Do you think the council is starting to fight and
not get on and.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Do you think that the yes, I do, I do
like I think we're all responsible, right and we all
need to play a part in making creating a better city.
I don't think the in fighting with counselor's helps at all.
I don't think some sets that some things that are
said in public are useful or sometimes true, and we
(04:40):
all have a responsibility to serve our people and find
the best solution for them. I don't think everyone is
doing that at all times.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I had an experience personally in business that I was
having a problem with I was getting nowhere with the
council and I went to a council person and said,
I've got this problem. It's not working and I'm getting
very concerned. Within twenty four hours it was sorted. Should
it have to be that? Should it have to be
that we go to our count because our council employees
(05:12):
people working for us and not doing their jobs efficiently
as they should be. No.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
I definitely like things to be much more efficient. It's
difficult because we are constrained by legislation. And I'm assuming
you're talking about licensing and consents, so because that's an
independent body and when we're getting mass applications for consents,
it has to be managing it in a certain way,
(05:36):
you know, for you to kind of get fast tracked,
like I'm happy for you, but you're right.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I definitely wasn't fast tracked. I mean, I've been waiting
months and months. This is like getting to know so
out of desperation. It wasn't like, hey, I'm on radio,
I can get this thing. Yeah, definitely hadn't.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
For sure. I would love for it to be faster
and more consistent. It would take a change in legislation.
It would take you know, someone a local MP, the
government to start work on this. It doesn't seem to
be a priority at the moment, but you know, I
would love.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
It to be. Do you actually sit back and think,
and you don't come from a business background, you come
from a political background, do you actually sit back and
think and say, gosh, when you've had ten businesses closing,
do you think we could have done more? Do you
ever stop and think like that? Or does a counsel
and sit there and think what could we have done?
Make it better?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Of course? Of course you know there's a there are
a lot of people at council, including myself that whenever
I see a business close, I do go oh oh man,
you know, like what could we have done? And I
think have.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
You ever run? Have you ever got your staff to
say give me the owner of that place? I want
to actually just rang them and see what's going on.
Have you ever done that or thought about Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Yeah, I've actually talked to a number of business owners
who are willing to talk, as well as my meroral
business group. And the biggest, the biggest not comp but
the biggest issue seems to be less foot traffic, less
spend and that has really accelerated after the thousands of
public service comes so.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
On Monday, we have a business panel. Every couple of
weeks we get a couple of business people in it
and I said to them on the show, what do
you think the council could do? We were talking about
the money you're looking at giving. Yeah, yeaham Thornton, what
do you think the council could do to help business?
And straight away bang they said, cut the red tape.
Both of them said, cut the red tape. Make it easier,
(07:37):
welcome us, make you know, get your documentation done quicker.
Is that a complaint that you hit.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Not directly, but if that comes up as a big
priority that businesses would like us to focus on as
part of us working with businesses moving forward, I will
absolutely do that. Again. It's frustrates me too that the
legislation makes it so constrained, but I would love to
be able to make it easier.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Can you do any think is mayor to to change that?
Can you go to the local politicians? I mean there's
a lot said on this show that you don't have
a relationship with the government, that you know, you're in
different camps with the government. Does that make it more
difficult for you?
Speaker 4 (08:20):
No?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
I think because the ministers and MPs. At the end
of the day, even though we have differing politics, they're
still professional and constructive. So if I request a meeting,
I get a meeting. I've worked really well with people
like Minister Pink, Minister Bishop and you know me and
me and the Prime Minister. Have you know where we're productive.
(08:43):
We are very polite to each other.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
What about your relationship with Simmy and Brown? How's that
it's constructive?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
We're not besties, but where we have a constructive relationship
and I do point back to he does listen. Like
I know that him and I differ significantly when it
comes to transport, but I was able to meet with
him and basically request can I please keep the Golden
mile or get rid of this? Is that I won't
make a fuss, and he did. He listens. So that
(09:11):
proves to me that actually we can be really constructive together.
We just politically think very differently.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Politically think very differently. Does that end up hurting us
as Wellingtonian?
Speaker 3 (09:21):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
You don't think that that them not feeling that you're
on board with their idealisms helps us or hinders us?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Well, I would hope not. I think they would be
irresponsible if that was the case. That's not what I'm
doing and I would hope that's not what they're doing
as well.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
So back to just really quickly, because I got to
go for an ad break. Do you believe that Wellington
City Council as a group that you're part of, you're
only one vote in, you're the mayor and I get
all that stuff before you come back with me at it?
Do you think there is more that can be done
by our group of leaders in this city to get
us out of the quagmire that we're currently in.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Absolutely, but I think it requires me, It requires our counselors,
It requires our local MPs and the government working together.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Tory Faro Wellington Mayor in the studio with us Tory
the issue of businesses. I want to sort of elaborate
on this a bit more. You brought the idea to council.
It was your idea of offering fifty I don't know
whether you came up with the actual amount, but offering
fifteen hundred dollars micro grants the business affected by the
works on Thornton Key. Council staff are currently investigating the idea.
(10:28):
Where did firstly, where did the fifteen hundred dollars come from?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
That came from council offices based on what we had
in the budget and what we could actually afford without
having to increase rates or make any changes to the
long term plan.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Did you is that you come up with you had
a figure of like fifty fifty thousand dollars or something.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Again, something like that.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Yeah, yeah, you could just give it. Do you feel
that was almost insulting? I mean, we actually thought about it.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
When I thought about it, what I really want to
emphasize is that I know it will never be enough
for a lot of businesses, but I hope that people
see it as the beginning of us looking into the
best ways we can help businesses. I have seen a
couple of businesses speak publicly and say it means everything
to them. Well, some it means nothing, and that's fine,
(11:18):
but it is the start, you know. I totally hear
you about the consent process red tape being exhausting and frustrating.
We'll look into that as well.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Is there something that actually can make this project better
for the businesses rather than just fifteen hundred bucks.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Well it's either that or nothing. We can't pause the project.
We can't pause the project because that would lead to,
you know, pausing a particular contract itself ends up being
thousands of dollars a day, so you'd just end up
delaying the project and adding a few million dollars onto
the tab.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
What about the opposite that speeding it up? Could we
put more resources into make it quicker?
Speaker 3 (11:55):
That's a really great question. My understanding is no, but
it could be. It could. Yeah, let me take that away.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Okay, we're going to talk about the Golden Mile soon,
but is it something that you're going to consider for
the Golden Mile giving businesses that are affected by that?
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Ye?
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Grant yes, because I would have thought, and I'll be
one of those people affected by that if they rang
up and sent me you only in the front of
your restaurant and your bars all being dug up and
you can't get people in there, We're going to give
you fifteen hundred dollars. I'm going to say, is that
a day? Because that's basically.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Okay, would you rather than nothing?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
I would absolutely rather nothing, because I reckon and I've
done the figures. Yep, I've done the figures based on
opening a new business there. I think it's going to
cost me between twenty five and forty thousand a week. Yep.
And so fifteen hundred dollars ain't going to do much.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
I know, but we don't have the money. We don't
have the rate payer money to give you forty thousand
a week. And look, I'm really sorry about that.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So but generally you're sorry, No I.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Am, I'm legit sorry about that. So look, we'll look
at things like grants. We'll also look at you know,
what we're doing with the Meryoral Business Group is creating
many more activations to actually bring the foot traffic to
the city and know that the businesses are there.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Can I suggest that there'll be businesses in Thornton right
now that those figures that I've bandied around will be real.
There'll be business in Thornton right now that are losing
between twenty five and forty grand possibly more a week. Yes,
When is somebody going to take some accountability and realize
that by hurting these businesses it's not great for our city.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
As I said, I can't give every business forty grand
a week. That's just not feasible and I don't think
And the thing is, you know, you get people saying
is now the right time or should should we just
pause the project or should we give it up? The
(13:54):
same people are complaining about how our city is dying
and it hasn't been updated. The thing is, we need
to keep our infrastructure, our public transport, our city streets
modern and up with the times to create a really solid,
vibrant city.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
And I get that. As a business that's affected by it,
I get that, yes, and I have been really harsh
in my job and publicly about the fact that what
it's going to do for me personally. But now I'm
thinking for the betterment of our city. So we've got
to do this stuff. We do have to, So how
can we actually make it work so those small businesses
right along the Golden MILEEP do not have to close
(14:36):
for you to be able to have the end result. Correct,
that's what we've got to aim for.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
I think, well, I think that's where we us, local
businesses and the government need to work together here. So
we I think, as you said, we agree we need
this to create a vibrant city. The money that council
can give to these businesses is far from enough. We
can work with central government to improve that. Consent process,
and I'm also keen on what else we can do
(15:03):
if could make our works faster. Look, I'll ask officers.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Someone suggested to me yesterday, what about the council saying
to the property owners, will reduce the rates well of
your business, because remember, these people are paying rates and
they're not getting the use out of their building. So
what about the situation where you take the rates off
the buildings on the proviso that that is handed down
(15:28):
to the business.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Okay, I'll go and ask officers that. And I think
what we'll also look at is how the downtown levy
is used as well.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Right, Okay, since you were last in Tory, though, Warrington
residents have started to receive their days as tax bills
and they're huge. Then we see rate bills. Did I
say rate bills? Sorry? Rates bills? Yeah, tax and rates
all the same money. And we saw a great story
from the Herald yesterday looking how rates will increase over
(15:57):
the next four years. Do you actually really really understand
the pertin pain vulnerable pace people like pensioners are receiving.
I get it all the time. It's tough for them.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
It is tough. I know it is. And look, I'm
not proud of having to increase rates this much, but
it is consistent. It's a consistent issue across the country.
You know, many councils, including our own, haven't underinvested in
things like water, earthquake prone buildings and many other things
(16:34):
that we have to pay for it.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Now, can you tighten your belt? Can you save more money?
Because you know, I looked at there's a great thing.
I don't know whether you did it on the here
or whether you actually did the pole of the thing
yourself and looked at it and saw what your house
is going to be rates in four years time, but
mine worked out to be three hundred and thirty five
dollars a week seventeen thousand a year. Now, I can't
(16:57):
afford to live in my house that with the rates
of that high.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
This is so you know, when you look at our
long term plan is what people have asked for. This
is how much it costs. And unfortunately a big chunk
of that long term plan is also water infrastructure. As
we know it has to be dealt with.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
But the government have come up with their new plan
and that's going to save you know, help you and
save it.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
It really doesn't it doesn't.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
So so the new plan from from the government for
their water done better doesn't save you anything.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Not not currently. I mean we're still developed, developing the
legislation which will hopefully be done next year. We are
working on a regional model and the best one that
will you know how power rate payers. But essentially we're
still paying for water and pipe replacement at the end
of the day, and so we have had to put
in one point eight billion dollars into a long term plan.
(17:54):
As far as we know.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
We're still doing big ideas, aren't we. We're still spending big.
We're doing the Golden Mile. We're still spending we are
when we really we I I mean you might be
able to afford it. I can't afford those rape So
if I'm speaking for myself, I'm speaking for hundreds of
thousands of Wellingtonians.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
But like we discussed before, we have to upgrade our
city otherwise it does sort of die away. And that
that is why things like Thornton Key and the Golden
Mile are really important projects. We know that Courtney Place
needs a lot of work. Unfortunately, it just costs money
and this is what people have asked for.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Does it actually affect you at all. When you do
you do, or you probably get it online because you're
a modern woman. But when you look online and see
your rates builder, you go, holy hell, I got to
find that every week. Is it like that for you
as well? Personally?
Speaker 3 (18:44):
Yeah, I mean so as well as my mortgage rates doubling,
and you know, I've had to make some adjustments to
my lifestyle. I do nothing in terms of socializing and stuff,
and I look at my rates.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
It doesn't help the economy going out and spending money.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Well, maybe that's why it's gone down, but look, it's
I don't spend at the moment because of the cost
of living crisis like many others.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
And surely we shouldn't have to live like that. Surely
we should be able to live where we go out
once a week and we spend money and.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
We doing I totally agree. But as we know, this
is what the issue is country wide, you know, because
of increased interest rates, because of layoffs from from our
public service.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So I tend I'm sort of going to argue a
little bit with this one because Auckland under Wayne Browne.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
There increases their water infrastructure has dealt with in a
completely different way to what we are.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
So he's do our residents care where our water structure
is sorted out or do they care that what they pay?
Speaker 1 (19:50):
You?
Speaker 3 (19:50):
Sorry, ask you?
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Well, I'm saying that, you know, we don't really care
that Auckland's water things are taken in, but they don't
have to pay for it, That's what I'm saying. Well,
why do we.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
Because they've they've had that structure as a super city
set up in advance and the government has helped them.
We're not getting the same help currently.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Why not?
Speaker 3 (20:06):
You'll have to ask the government.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Well, Prime Minister is in here on Thursday morning.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
I mean that's why I was so supportive of three
water reform under the previous government, because it was going
to make it easier on the rate payers.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
So I'm going to ask you that question. Under three
if we had a labor government right now we had
three waters, would my rates still be going up as
much as they are. No, So I would have been
able to save money.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Yes, it's a simple as that, considerable man.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Yes, really, it's.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
As simple as that. This is why we were so supportive,
but it got taken over by politics, but actually would
have had a significant impact on our rates.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
You know what sort of percentage we would have been
better off.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Oh, maybe a few percent, but I would have to
go back and ask. But it has so because we've
had to cancel and undo it and now spend a
couple of years setting up a new regional model, it
has impacted our rates bill.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Do you think that we're as rate payers and you're
included in this, are actually getting a fair deal.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
I am still disupported that that Three Waters didn't go through.
As a ratepayer, this.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Is the first time we've ever heard this.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
It's been public for years that.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
That three Waters would have saved my rates.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Yeah, and yeah, and what have Well? Absolutely, this is
this is why so many of us, especially local councils,
were so pushy about it, because you end up using
different financing tools to pay for that water infrastructure. It's
off our balance sheet, which means we have a far
less debt and our rates would have been lower. So
(21:41):
this this is why that has been so disappointing. It's
not clear right now with the current water orform program
of the current government whether that will have the same impact.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
And you think it could have been as much as
three or four percent, Yes, that would have been I
do taken off our rates if I do.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
That was the main purpose of three Waters.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Three weeks ago the Prime Minister Christopher Hickson Christopher Laxon
talking about before stood in Taquina and Lambastard councils for
excessive spending all around New Zealand. And he wasn't picking
on you, although I believe he's looking straight at you
when he was talking about it. We hear about then
we hear the very next day, I think it was
the very next day, wasn't it. We heard a few
(22:22):
days later a five hundred and fifty thousand dollars bike
rack on a lane off the terrace. That seems like
an unfathomable amount. And every time we talk you say
we're tightening our belts, but then we hear stories like that.
I mean, you surely can't be even slightly relaxed about
(22:45):
spending five hundred and fifty thousand dollars on a bike reck.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
I'm not relaxed. That was too much for a bike rack,
and it certainly exceeded the sides on that that you
know it has offices and.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Surely someone should get fired over it.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Then that's not for me to say.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
What it is for say you're un he here, I
need you to go Donald Trump on us, I need
you to go on your fire.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I'm not going to do that. It's not It's not
for me to go and bully staff into.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
I didn't say bully. I just said you made a mistake.
You're fired.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
No, but imagine if you're in that team and you
hear the may As saying someone needs to be fired.
That is quite, you know, really disempowering to hear. There's
a there's a lot of great stuff.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
This is where our issue as a city I believers
and Barbara mccaroy must take some responsibility for it. But
we your counsel, our council, because we voted everyone and
you know, think about a bike rack and they can
spend that sort of money, they're in the wrong job.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
Look, I will say a mistake was made with the
bike rack. It should never have cost that much. But
at the end of the day, bike rakes are incredibly
important moving forward, We're going to make sure that never happens.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Again, no question.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Let me finish, Please, let me finish. And we're going
to start using which will be more cost effective, things
like Lucky Docky and working in partnership with them because
they're incredibly popular across the city as well.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Give me twenty five thousand plus GST and I'll build
you the bike wreck. Anytime you need a bikeereck from
now on you've got my number. Ring men say can
you build them? I can. I'll build them for twenty
five grand. I'll build you a bike wreck. You know
really well, I built one for my kids thirty years
ago and it didn't cost me twenty five grand. You know,
I mean, can our council manage money directly?
Speaker 5 (24:32):
Can?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
So when you think about our multi billion dollar budget,
this is like a small mistake in the widest scheme
of things, and I admit that.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
But how many other small mistakes have we got? And
you know, my mother used to say to me, look
after the penny and the pounds will look after themselves.
If we start by being a little bit more cost careful,
surely our rates could come down.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
It would have no impact on rates. That little mistake.
But look, we you know it'll never happen again. It'll
never happen again.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
But there's a little tiny bit of deja vu, and
that too, because we do have we do hear them
and it's not your I know you the mayor, but
it's not your responsibility. How you know, Barbara kerro Is
the CEO. Have you got anyone lined up for that job?
Speaker 3 (25:18):
By the way, we're still going through the recruitment process.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
You must have you had a couple of cvs that you.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Looked at, but we're not. We're not at that stage.
And actually it has to be quite a tight process.
No one can approach me and try to influence the
process at all. It's quite Yeah, we're having an independent
person managing the entire thing.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Okay, the council has already passed its ten year plan,
but it looks like the up it's coming a little
bit unstuck, isn't it. I mean, a majority of councils
no longer want to support the sale of the Wellington
City Council's airport shares and the government has passed the
local Water done well planned, So first off, let's have
a look at the ten year plan. But we'll go
first off, the sale of the council shares in the
(25:59):
airport is dead in the water. So if this vote
happened today, what happens then?
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Look, I don't know how the votes would fall.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
But let's just say, let's say you haven't got the majority, Gaina.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Okay, So we won't know for sure what the outcome
will be until the tenth of October. So because that's
what officers are doing, they're preparing the advice to outline
and articulate the impact that that would have. But what
we heard before we decided the LTP from officers is
that if the share, if the sale fails, that means
(26:33):
we lose our form of self insurance. We would need
to make it up elsewhere, and that is approximately four
hundred million dollars from our wider programs. So it is likely,
although we won't know till the tenth of October, we'll
need to make.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
What you got telling you.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
I would hope, I genuinely hope that once counselors see
the negative impact that this will have on the entire
long term plan, that they'll vote for the best interests
of Wellington, which is to keep it going.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
But we know that that's on paper is not the
way it's going to go.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
No, we don't know that.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
I think do you think things have changed in the
last since the last time we spoke?
Speaker 3 (27:13):
Yeah? No, I think I think including those who have
moved the nom and those who have signed it. I
really don't think they truly understand the impact that this
would have.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Or you can say the converse to that, and you
don't really understand or your group don't understand the consequences
of selling those shares.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
No, we do know. We've received you know, a year,
more than a year filled with advice, filled with consultation,
where majority support this sale. We are doing right by
you really.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Think that the majority of Walentonians want to sell the shares?
Speaker 3 (27:47):
That's what we've received through consultation only about I think
it was twenty three percent who opposed, and the rest
either supported it, support partial or didn't know.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
They must be moving in the wrong circle. So I've
never heard anybody say this is a good idea.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
You must be But that's the information that we have.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Yeah, okay, so you think you've still got a chance
for it to go through?
Speaker 4 (28:09):
Yes, I do.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
And what happens if it doesn't?
Speaker 3 (28:12):
If it starts again, we have to start again, and
we'll have to What does that likely have to start again?
Speaker 2 (28:17):
What does that look like in real terms? You must
have thought about that.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
Yeah, No, I've totally thought about it, so again, we
won't know for sure until the tenth of October, but
what it looks like is that we need to go
up for consultation again, which will happen over the next year,
and we need to consult on a four hundred dollars
million cut from our program and getting getting input from
the public on what that cut looks like.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Well, if a more mayor, Torri Fano is in the
studio with us, we've got a couple of questions. Trevor,
you have a question for meyor Tory fun.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
Yeah, Tori, how are you?
Speaker 3 (28:47):
Hey?
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Good?
Speaker 3 (28:48):
How are you good?
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Thanks for putting yourself out in the public like today.
Speaker 4 (28:55):
Two.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
But hey, look, I'm just wondering, have you ever thought
about maybe putting a parking meter on that that cycle
parking cycle thing that you've put there you said was
a mistake, cost too much. I mean, if you just
got one parking meter there of some sort, so I
presume you're thinking that it's going to be full most
of the time. There's eighteen parts here for the bikes,
(29:18):
one not the little meter there, so they pay, And
why don't cyclists have to pay for parking?
Speaker 3 (29:24):
Good question, I'll pass it on to the bike team.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Very good question. Trevor surprised me with that question. Why
don't push bikes they called push bikes anymore? Are they?
Why don't bikes don't park?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yeah, you don't think they're called push bike? Dean, good morning.
You have a question for me, Tory fund it?
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Yeah, good a Tory and I'm a cyclist. I can't
stand the cycle lanes and things that are going around
the place. But my question is about Thornton Key. How
much is it costing and what's the point.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
So Thornton Key, I think it's around about oh gosh,
I'd have to look back at the maybe one p forty.
The point of it is to create to make it
safe for various forms of transport, whether it's car, cycle,
and making buses faster. It's really disruptive now, but in
(30:19):
the end it's going to just make it much smoother
and safer to get down there, whether you're a cyclist
or not, but also ensure that there's less congestion. That million, sorry,
seventeen million.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Is that one hundred and forty million?
Speaker 3 (30:32):
No, no, no, I got that confused with the Golden Mile.
So seventeen million seventeen million.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
There you go, Dean. Hopefully that was good enough for you.
I just want to wrap the show with asking you
about the Golden Mile. Is everything still on track? Are
we starting in a later part of the share and
the business haven't the businesses down there haven't put you
off anymore.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
I believe it's actually January into January that it's starting,
and nope, we're still proceeding.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Okay, And the budget is still the same for that,
still the same, because I'm hearing rumors that it's going
to cost the hell of a lot more. Is that not?
Am I just hearing rumors? Is that just scare people?
Speaker 3 (31:10):
I think it's just scam angering. If it did increase more, look,
we just couldn't pay for that. So we're sticking to
the budget.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
So this is this contract for this job, unlike one
in town Hall and the library and stuff, although the
library I believes on budget. But so this is a
fixed term contract we don't have that we can't pay
anymore for.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
Yeah, I believe so that either way, we're not expecting
a cost blow out on this one, and we're not
expecting any more cost blow outs with other buildings as well,
because of the way that they're managed now.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Could it have been put off just for a couple
of years to let everyone get a breather after what
we've all been through. Could have that been done feasibly
or not?
Speaker 3 (31:47):
Ah well, So what we did instead was pause the
Lampton Key part off because that was a strong request
from retailers. So we've done that by about three or
four years. But if we paused this part further, we
we're at risk of losing the funding and just I think,
just kind of delaying the inevitable. And people don't feel
(32:10):
comfortable down there at the moment, even though I still
think Courtney Place is great and I love all the
places down there, but it really is time for a
revitalization of that area.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Thank you very much for coming in, Tory. It's always
really good for our people to be able to listen
to you and for you to come in and front
up and take your questions. I appreciate it. Thanks for
all you do. Thank you for having me wanting to
met Tori Faro.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
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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