Editorial: It's a pretty simple question

Brian "Butch" McLachlan

Brian "Butch" McLachlan has been criticised for his erratic stance on Whangarei issues such as the Hundertwasser Art Centre.

But he seems to have raised a fair point this week, that most of his council colleagues rejected.

Councillor McLachlan wants to start a conversation with the Minister of Local Government, about the way pay increases are set for councillors. Whangarei's mayor Sheryl Mai got 3 per cent from July 1, her councillors 4.9 per cent. Ms Mai was embarrassed, said it didn't look good, and wondered how the public would perceive the increase. Especially after the council set a 9 per cent rate increase.

The average national wage increase from March 2013 to March 2014 was 1.7 per cent. The average Engineering, Print and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) contract settlement was 2.4 per cent. Why then didn't councillors yesterday take the opportunity to redeem themselves, and start the relevant conversation about an outdated, out of touch and unrealistic process? At the moment, the Remuneration Authority determines the increase and councillors can't adjust it.

Mr McLachlan said he only wanted the council to express dissatisfaction at their increases and start a discussion about pay increases that he says "lack empathy" with ratepayers.

He was supported by experienced councillors Phil Halse and Shelley Deeming.

Elsewhere around the table, he was accused of grandstanding, his motion was too general, and others said the process should not be politicised. Wouldn't the smart political thing have been to debate the motion, and amend it? Mr McLachlan said yesterday: "I'm asking a simple question. Whether we are happy with the current system or whether we want a change."

Here's another simple question: as a councillor, how can you justify a pay increase double the national EPMU average, and 2.8 times the 1.7 per cent national average? Please email your response to editor@northernadvocate.co.nz. We will publish the responses, including who did and didn't respond, in a week or so.