Councillor waits to hear his fate

A Taraura District councillor is in limbo as he waits to hear from the auditor-general’s office over a conflict-of-interest situation.

Councillor Ernie Christison said the situation arose after he took on contracting work for a council water upgrade project.

The Dannevirke man is a contractor by trade and has more than 20 years’ experience of contract and subcontract work in the area.

In mid-january, he agreed to do contract work as part of a councilled Woodville water upgrade project.

Christison said he acquired the job at the Mclean St site in Woodville because of his experience installing water tanks.

Under the Local Authorities (Members Interest) Act 1968, councillors are unable to exceed more than $25,000 in income (excluding their salary) from the council during a financial year.

Councillors can, however, seek prior approval for contracts exceeding the $25,000 amount. Occasionally, retrospective approval can also be granted.

Christison said he started the work on January 14. However, he said he wrote to the Office of the Auditor-general two days later after realising the extent of the work needed, and that the cost would go above the capped amount.

Christison said he stopped work at the Mclean St site on January 24.

A spokesman for the auditorgeneral, Mike Heine, said the office was not investigating an offence against the law.

But it was considering an application from Christison for approval to enter into contracts with Tararua District Council worth more than $25,000 this financial year, he said.

Tararua mayor Tracey Collis said that, based on the facts as she understood them, she did not think Christison would have to give up being a councillor.

Christison was adamant he had done nothing wrong. He said he had also declared conflict-ofinterest matters at previous council meetings.

‘‘I’m quite happy to be transparent – I’ve got nothing to hide.’’

Christison was elected as a councillor in October 2016.

He said that in the past two years he had done more than $200,000 worth of contracting and subcontracting work for the Tararua District Council.

He has been involved in projects including the Akitio boat ramp, walkway, and Pahiatua Recycling Centre.

He said he had been given great support from Collis and deputy mayor Allan Benbow throughout the process.