Chairman edged out

The Auckland City Council is not renewing Richard Waddell's term as chairman of its entertainment business.

Mr Waddell, who has been on The Edge board since 2003 and chairman since 2007, said he was told by finance committee chairman Doug Armstrong that it was normal council policy to replace board members after two three-year terms.

Mr Waddell, who is also chairman of the Auckland Festival Trust, said he had enjoyed the challenges of The Edge and would have liked another term.

Despite the two-term policy, Mr Waddell will leave the board under a cloud when his term ends on June 30.

The decision not to renew his contract follows a $1.9 million loss posted by the musical My Fair Lady.

In a report this month, he said: "The board is clear that accountability for the end result of My Fair Lady belongs to the board." However, Mr Waddell said yesterday that he sincerely believed that The Edge made the right decision about My Fair Lady based on the information at the time.

"We were very rigorous. We had some huge debates at the board, which you always do when you are looking at this sort of money. In the end the board came up with a unanimous decision to recommend it to council," Mr Waddell said.

Councillors knew ticket sales were poor and a big loss was imminent when they bailed out the musical to the tune of $1.4 million a week out from the opening. The Edge said cancelling the musical would be devastating for the Auckland market.

The council will today appoint deputy chairman and marketing lawyer Peter Stubbs to succeed Mr Waddell as chairman.

Another board member, Ngati Whatua o Orakei Reserve Board trustee Daniel Te Puna Tumahai, will also be replaced on the board after serving two terms.