Peter Winder back as Crown manager at KDC

Peter Winder is back at the Kaipara District Council as Crown manager, less than two months after his appointment was terminated. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The government has re-appointed a Crown manager of the Kaipara District Council less than two months after it terminated his appointment on a technicality.

Peter Winder was first appointed in July 2016 to help the council on a range of historical legal issues relating, including rates challenges in respect of the Mangawhai wastewater sewerage scheme.

But the role was terminated in April due to concerns about "potential technical flaws" with his appointment and the Terms of Reference.

While terminating his appointment in April, Associate Local Government Minister Jacqui Dean said neither Mr Winder's past actions nor that of the council were questioned but that there would be uncertainty about the legality of future decisions he made if the role continued.

The council paid $5627 in remuneration to Mr Winder for the duration of his last appointment.

He will begin his new appointment from June 20 and Ms Dean said he was a good candidate given his extensive experience as a local government leader and his previous work with the council.

Mr Winder has been appointed to the role until the 2019 local government election but the government will review the need for this appointment in June 2018.

Ms Dean said there was no process for a reappointment under legislation so once the Crown manager was terminated, it was necessary to undertake a new process to make the case for and make a new appointment.

This was an extensive process and required a full Cabinet decision and consultation with several government agencies, she said.

"The Kaipara District Council has made good progress and I see Crown support as a temporary measure. I wish to see the council use this period when Crown support is in place to strengthen its corporate and legal capacity," Ms Dean said.

Kaipara Deputy Mayor Peter Wethey said the appointment would ensure continuity in dealing with historical matters which Mr Winder was well versed with.

He said the council looked forward to the day historic legal matters were resolved as they would assist the local government entity financially and would also allow the district to finally put that era of its past behind.

The cost of the Crown manager will be borne by the council.

Northland MP Winston Peters said Mr Winder should never have been appointed last year as he was one of three commissioners who failed to take action against Beca, the project management company of the Mangawhai Wastewater Scheme that blew out.

"The National government continues to let down ratepayers, and seems utterly bereft of providing an adequate response to repair past wrongs," he said.