Economic leader stepping down
Another top dog is set to leave Wellington’s economic agency.
Peter Biggs, who is chairman of the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (Wreda), is stepping down at the end of his term, later this year.
The move follows the departure of the agency’s previous chief executive, Chris Whelan, in 2017. Both men came under fire for Wreda spending up large on dinners and charging it to ratepayer-funded credit cards.
Stuff reported that Whelan had bills worth thousands of dollars on items such as Bluff oysters, fine wine and meals at some of Wellington’s finest eateries, and Biggs was out with him on many of the occasions, and signed off on the spending.
After Stuff requested – under the Official Information Act – the expenses Biggs had charged back to Wreda, he suddenly repaid almost $5000 of expenses that included a trans-Tasman flight.
Wellington Mayor Justin Lester praised what Biggs had done for the region, seeing the organisation through its amalgamation from five separate entities into a single, regional agency.
Biggs was leaving the Wreda team in good shape, he said.
Biggs, who was appointed as the inaugural chairman in 2014, said in a statement that it was a good time to pass the reins to someone else.
He was now keen to devote more time to his growing advertising business and philanthropic activities within the Wellington region – particularly in the arts.
When Biggs was appointed, he set goals to achieve by the end of his four-year term, which he felt that he had done.
These included adding value to the Wellington region and making it more prosperous, confident and distinctive.
‘‘I’m departing feeling incredibly proud of the work the Wreda team has done over the past few years.’’
Wreda chief executive Lance Walker said Biggs championed new ideas to make Wellington succeed.
A new chairperson had not yet been appointed.