Wellington’s new Crown observer has prompted questions about his whereabouts on his first day in the job, with councillors surprised by his absence at a briefing this morning.
City councillors are meeting for a capital programme review briefing to decide on budget cuts in the Long Term Plan (LTP).
As the meeting was beginning around 9.30am Councillor Tim Brown interjected, asking chair Rebecca Matthews “where’s our observer?”
Matthews said she understood “he is not here today” but was “potentially” watching the sessions online.
“So we will be being observed, but there’s sort of some administration before he is actually going to be joining us,” she said.
“So we’re not paying him?” Brown asked, prompting chuckles and sighs around the council table and Mayor Tory Whanau to put her head in her hands.
“It’s too early for jokes,” Matthews responded.
A Wellington City Council spokesperson told the Herald they were expecting McKenzie to start observing in person in the next week or so, particularly for the important LTP meeting scheduled for November 21.
When the Herald texted McKenzie to ask where he was, he replied “on a plane”.
McKenzie starts in his role as Crown observer today. He’s expecting to work two to three days a week, earning $1000 a day, and flying between Nelson and Wellington.
When the appointment of an observer was announced, Whanau said it was “frustrating” that the “unexpected cost” had to be met by the council.
Whanau also said at the time she was waiting on advice as to whether she could ask the Government to foot the bill.
McKenzie, a former chief executive of the Tasman and Gisborne district councils, was announced as the observer this week.
Lindsay McKenzie has served as interim chief executive at Nelson City Council and CEO of Tasman District Council. Photo / Supplied
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said McKenzie had significant governance and senior leadership experience in local government.
“My assessment is that the financial and behavioural challenges facing the council represent a significant problem,” Brown said.
Whanau previously welcomed the Government’s move to appoint an observer.
She said the minister had fairly pointed out examples where councillors had walked out of meetings and she acknowledged the council had tough decisions ahead.
McKenzie’s term will finish at the end of July 2025 or earlier if appropriate.
He told the Herald the role would be parttime and he plans to work two to three days a week.
McKenzie said he expects to work more as he gets set up, but believes things should settle after the holiday break, when he will start working an average of two days a week.
He will fly from Nelson for the job, with travel expenses also to be paid by the council.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau speaks to media after the Government appointed a Crown observer to the city's council. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Department of Internal Affairs, which manages government intervention in local government, said $1000 is the set rate for a Crown observer.
“The Crown Observer is responsible for ensuring any expenses claimed are reasonable and necessary”, its local government policy states.
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet sets out the daily rate and states a working day is “about 8 hours”.
“Where a total of 6 hours is worked in one day, a daily fee may be paid.”
In Tauranga, where four commissioners replaced the mayor and councillors between February 2021 and July 2024, the commission chair was paid $1800 per day and commissioners $1500 per day.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said he doesn’t expect the observer role to be a full-time job for McKenzie.
“I anticipate that his time commitment will initially be higher as he meets with councillors and staff to build up a strong understanding of the issues the council faces and how he will address them.”
He told Newstalk ZB yesterdayMcKenzie would sort through the “dysfunction between personalities” at Wellington’s counciland will help the mayor and councillors to “get on”.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. Photo/ Mark Mitchell
He said McKenzie would provide external advice and assist with a fresh pair of eyes, though it’s up to the council whether it follows the Crown observer’s guidance.
“[He]… has not been part of all the drama over the last little while and can provide an extra set of advice.”
Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property development in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.
