Ratepayer jam jar drops extra on mayoral trip

A mayoral trip is a mayoral trip is a mayoral trip – or you would expect so.

But when it’s a visit to Asia by Wellington mayor Tory Whanau and an entourage of staff and iwi members, it appears what constitutes a “mayoral” trip, and where the money for it is coming from, is open to some interpretation.

In a report back to the Long-Term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee, the mayor’s visit to Xiamen, Tianjin, Beijing, Sakai and Seoul in September 2023 is costed at $6491.71.

That included airfares, meals, accommodation and ground transport, not part-funded or paid for in full by the various host cities.

Yet Whanau also took four support staff – political adviser Michael Naylor, the council’s economic wellbeing manager Anna Calver, Tātai Heke Chief Māori Officer Karepa Wall and International relationship manager Tom Yuan.

Original estimates put the cost of the trip – including the four officers – at $50,000.

Final figures for the quartet, which were not included in last week’s report, were $40,583.28, meaning the trip came in just under budget. As with the mayor, the majority of the costs relating to internal travel, catering and accommodation for support staff, whose trips and associated costs are signed off by the chief executive, were heavily subsidised by the host cities.

However, no publicity from the council has mentioned it was also part-funding the travel and accommodation costs of three Tākai Here partnership representatives, Tamahau Rowe (Deputy Chief Executive Māori, Teaching Council of Aotearoa NZ), Pipiana Rowe (Māori cultural consultant and adviser) and Acushla Sciascia (director, Māpuna Consultants).

It can now be revealed an extra $25,891.84 came from council coffers for them to accompany the mayor to three of the five countries visited.

Tākai Here is a partnership between the council and Te Ātiawa, Taranaki Whānua, and Ngāti Toa.

The report on the trip noted their representation provided an opportunity for council to demonstrate the commitment it had to the partnership and offered the chance to bring an indigenous voice to “our sister and friendly cities, showing our unique perspective on local and international issues”.