Foster may be ‘bitten on the backside’ by inquiry
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster could be ‘‘bitten on the backside’’ by the inquiry he has initiated, a local government academic says, because the man who is conducting it is described as someone who ‘‘doesn’t pull any punches’’.
Massey University senior lecturer Dr Andy Asquith admitted to being surprised at the decision by Foster to appoint former chief executive of Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and Auckland Regional Council Peter Winder to conduct an independent review into governance issues at Wellington City Council after long-simmering tensions within the chambers boiled over this week.
‘‘I assumed that [Foster] would’ve hand-picked someone who would’ve delivered what he wanted,’’ he said.
‘‘Peter Winder has got publicservice integrity ... [and] knows local government through and through. He doesn’t pull any punches.’’
In Winder’s more than two-decadelong career in governance, he has overseen reviews into other dysfunctional local authorities, including Tauranga City Council, and chaired boards at multiple tertiary institutes.
He was one of four commissioners appointed to replace elected members in running Kaipara District Council in 2012, when it was facing ‘‘serious governance and financial challenges’’ .
Like Asquith, people who have worked with Winder have painted a picture of him as a professional who is thorough, fair and erudite.
Former MP John Robertson got to know Winder while he was chairman of the four commissioners appointed to Kaipara District.
At the time, the organisation was in turmoil after a wastewater plant built at Mangawhai blew out in cost, and the council’s process for setting rates was found to be illegal.
‘‘Peter’s experience was enormously helpful as we looked through the legal issues,’’ Robertson said.
‘‘He’s not a lawyer, but he brought ... a deep understanding of how local government works. He had that chief executive depth of knowledge.’’
Former Tauranga mayor Tenby Powell – who resigned last year after infighting by some councillors hindered decision-making, culminating in a critical report by Winder and his team of reviewers and observers of its governance – said Winder was a ‘‘consummate professional’’.
‘‘I’m sure Peter will do a very good job at Wellington City Council. If Peter Winder’s involved, it will be fair and objective. It will create the best outcome for ratepayers.’’
Historian, iwi leader and former Waitangi Tribunal director Buddy Mikaere agreed Winder appeared to have done a ‘‘reasonable job’’ at Tauranga City Council, and iwi were pleased with the outcome of his review, which led to commissioners being appointed.
Mangawhai resident and retired Kaipara deputy mayor Richard Bull was so impressed by the work of Winder and his fellow commissioners that he organised a petition in 2015 requesting the commissioners stay.
‘‘Peter was asked to stay on to just keep an overview of the financial side of the council ... I think he did a damn good job. I was quite pleased because politically the wheels had fallen off here.’’
However, another Kaipara deputy mayor, Richard Alspach, who retired at the 2010 local election, was more critical of Winder’s performance as a commissioner, as well as that of his colleagues.
‘‘They put in place a management structure which was more appropriate for an Auckland Council . . . Things like that rankle people on this side island. You can’t classify that as a real success story.’’
While the Dargaville resident acknowledged the commissioners came into a messy situation, in his view ‘‘they were far too single-minded in their approach’’.
‘‘They just dealt with the one issue and not much else,’’ Alspach said.