New home security allowance for councillors

The Remuneration Authority, which sets the rules around councillor pay and entitlements, has this year included a home security allowance for elected members.

Some Hawke’s Bay councillors will be able to access allowances of up to $5500 to beef up their home security.

The Remuneration Authority, which sets the rules around councillor pay and allowances nationally, has made the claim possible following incidents of abuse, harassment and threats against lawmakers.

For the first time, elected members can receive up to $4500 to buy and install home security equipment, plus $1000 each year to cover monitoring, callouts and repairs.

Hastings District Council Mayor Wendy Schollum said introducing security support, similar to what MPs already have, was a Remuneration Authority decision.

“Our job is to decide the criteria around when it can be used, and we’ll work through that in the coming weeks,” Schollum said.

“Most of the time our interactions with the public are respectful and positive,” Schollum said.

“Constructive challenge of our decisions is an important part of democracy.

“But nationally, there have been situations where behaviour has crossed the line.”

She said no one should face threats or intimidation while doing their job, which applied to councillors as much as anyone else.

“This allowance is about ensuring a consistent framework is there if a genuine safety concern arose – not creating new entitlements.”

Eligibility is based on a security threat and risk assessment and is signed off by each council.

There is also a childcare allowance for councillors of up to $7500 per year for each child.

To be eligible for that, elected members must be working on council business, be the parent or guardian of the child or usually have day-to-day responsibility, and the child must be under 14 years.

The allowance is not paid to a spouse, parent of the child, civil union partner, or de facto partner of the member or someone who lives with the child.

Other allowances available to be drawn on by councillors include for phone, internet, vehicle mileage and travel.

The Remuneration Authority’s website said many local government elected members were experiencing significant incidences of abuse, harassment and threatening behaviour while undertaking their public roles.

“Members are, quite rightly, concerned not only about their own personal safety but the safety of their families.

“Therefore, the authority introduced a reimbursement allowance to cover the installation and monitoring of a security system at a member’s primary place of residence within their local authority area.”

Wairoa District Council chief executive Matt Lawson said allowances were at each council’s discretion, within the limits set by the Remuneration Authority.

“Wairoa council is in the process of reviewing its elected members’ allowances and Recovery of Expenses Policy – however, this has not yet been adopted by council.”

A spokesperson for Napier District Council said the childcare allowance would be put to the new council to vote on at its December 11 meeting, at this stage with the same cap as last year of $2000 per year per eligible child.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council said its councillors did not use the childcare allowance.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council councillors discussed allowances briefly at its November 12 meeting, where an updated policy was adopted allowing them to claim home security or childcare.

Earlier this year, Schollum spoke out about threats she had received, including sexual violence, threats against her children, and attempts to scare her out of public life.

“Many of them sent openly using real names and accounts, and most from men,” she said at the time.

“New Zealanders must draw a firm line. We do not accept intimidation as the price for public service.

“Our democracy benefits from diverse voices – and we should refuse to allow them to be silenced.”

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.