Where our councillors stand
We asked all 14 Wellington City councillors how they felt about mayor Andy Foster’s announcement this week that he was calling for an independent review into the council to try to overcome the divisions on the elected board. Here are their responses.
Diane Calvert Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward, councillor since 2016
Q: Do you have confidence in mayor Andy Foster’s ability to lead the council? A: The mayor was elected by the people of Wellington to do just that. He has my full support.
Q: Do you support his independent review?
A: Definitely.
Q: Will you take part in the review?
A: Definitely.
Q: What do you think is the main cause of the council’s current difficulties?
A: We have been able to make a number of critical decisions as a governing body but I believe we can be higher performing. To do this, we all need to further develop our governance and leadership skills and capabilities, and achieve more consensus.
Q What are you personally going to do to help the council get back on track? Contribute to the review and work with my colleagues on implementing the review findings to achieve the outcomes Wellingtonians expect.
Jenny Condie
Takapu¯ /Northern Ward, councillor since 2019
Q: Do you have confidence in mayor Andy Foster’s ability to lead the council? A: It would be inappropriate to answer this given my current code of conduct complaint against Foster remains under investigation.
Q: Do you support his independent review?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Will you take part in the review?
A: Absolutely.
Q: What do you think is the main cause of the council’s current difficulties?
A: There are numerous contributing factors, which are probably best discussed with the independent reviewer. We need a vision and plan for Wellington which all councillors can contribute to achieving. I am hopeful the review will provide a constructive forum, allowing us to progress on the important issues facing our city.
Q: What are you personally going to do to help the council get back on track?
A: I will continue working with colleagues across the political spectrum to find pragmatic compromises that balance financial affordability with the investment needed to fix Three Waters, respond to climate change, and prepare us to successfully welcome up to 80,000 new residents to our wild, creative, friendly city over 30 years.
Sarah Free Motukairangi/Eastern Ward, deputy mayor, councillor since 2013
Q: Do you have confidence in mayor Andy Foster’s ability to lead the council? A: Yes, we have achieved good progress on some tough issues under Andy’s leadership.
Q: Do you support his independent review?
A: Yes.
Q: Will you take part in the review?
A: Yes.
Q: What do you think is the main cause of the council’s current difficulties?
A: There is a complexity of issues, which is why we need an independent review.
Q: What are you personally going to do to help the council get back on track?
A: I will be taking the review process seriously, including implementing any recommendations.
Malcolm Sparrow
Takapu¯ /Northern Ward, councillor since 2013
Q: Do you have confidence in mayor Andy Foster’s ability to lead the council? A: Yes.
Q: Do you support his independent review?
A: Yes.
Q: Will you take part in the review?
A: Yes.
Q: What do you think is the main cause of the council’s current difficulties?
A: Councillors can work with a mayor without necessarily being on the same wavelength ideologically. I have seen that happen to a large degree in my past two terms on council. Sadly in this triennium ideological differences are too much at the forefront, to the detriment of councillors working together well.
Q: What are you personally going to do to help the council get back on track?
A: It is a matter of all councillors needing to put the interests of the city ahead of their own ideology. The deputy mayor is a great example of that. I have always endeavoured to work well with fellow councillors, of whatever political persuasion, and will continue to do so.
Jill Day
Takapu¯ /Northern Ward, councillor since 2016
Fleur Fitzsimons
Paekawakawa/Southern Ward, councillor since 2017
Laurie Foon Paekawakawa/Southern Ward, councillor since 2019
Iona Pannett
Pukehı¯nau/Lambton Ward, councillor since 2007
Rebecca Matthews
Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward, councillor since 2019
Teri O’Neill Motukairangi/Eastern Ward, councillor since 2019
Tamatha Paul
Pukehı¯nau/Lambton Ward, councillor since 2019
Sean Rush Motukairangi/Eastern Ward, councillor since 2019
These councillors chose to submit a combined response. ‘‘Councillors appreciate this opportunity to clarify recent events and demonstrate to Wellingtonians that whilst we share many differences we collaborate well and function as our democracy demands of us,’’ they said.
Q: Do you have confidence in mayor Andy Foster’s ability to lead the council? A: It is entirely up to the people of Wellington
Q: Do you support his independent review?
A: Yes.
Q: Will you take part in the review?
A: Yes.
Q: What do you think is the main cause of the council’s current difficulties?
A: The council just approved a record investment in water infrastructure and a solution to sludge treatment, which will ultimately let us reduce our waste; last year we approved a nation-leading pandemic recovery plan and we are starting to deliver affordable rental homes; we have approved many other matters unanimously. Disagreements are not ‘‘difficulties’’, they are healthy and an important part of living in a democracy.
Q: What are you personally going to do to help the council get back on track?
A: We will work constructively with the mayor and our councillor colleagues. The WCC is on track to deliver all that is required of it. We are all committed to delivering for Wellington – the stakes are too high not to.
Nicola Young Pukehı¯nau/Lambton Ward, councillor since 2013
Q: Do you have confidence in mayor Andy Foster’s ability to lead the council? A: No.
Q: Do you support his independent review?
A: Yes.
Q: Will you take part in the review?
A: Yes.
Q: What do you think is the main cause of the council’s current difficulties?
A: Andy does not understand his role, which includes building a vision for Wellington among councillors. There is a strong Labour/Green ideologically driven block but he has not helped himself by creating messy overlapping portfolios. There is a sense of chaos with no consequences for bad behaviour and limited commercial experience around the table.
Q: What are you personally going to do to help the council get back on track?
A: My main focus is on my portfolios (arts, events, central city) and ward responsibilities. I have worked constructively and collegially with all councillors fighting KiwiRail’s inner city ferry terminal, and accelerating the rebuilding of Civic Square. I have organised several councillor-only dinners (self-funded), and attempted to help the mayor with issues like punctuality.
Simon Woolf Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward, councillor since 2013
Woolf’s mother died yesterday so he was unable to answer our questions but he did send in a response, which we have abridged:
The mayor was elected democratically and I have endeavoured to support him where I can. He is a good person, experienced and well-motivated. Has he been given a fair go? Absolutely not. Can we continue to govern collectively and in the best interests of the city? Yes.
As it stands it is a tough ask, however we just need to be more disciplined, more focused on key priorities, and more respectful of each other. Is the current mayor the best person around the table to lead us? Yes.
There is not one of us who could have done better, given the situation our current mayor was handed. Andy is acknowledging his mistakes. He has made changes, however has never been supported fully from day one.
I absolutely support the independent review and will cooperate fully with it. One piece of clarity I would like to put out there, and it is really important: I have absolute trust and confidence in our new chief executive officer, Barbara McKerrow, and our executive leadership team. The city is in the best possible hands in relation to its operational and regulatory responsibilities. Now we need to shape up as governors of the city and get Wellington behind us.