Simeon Brown announces Lindsay McKenzie will be Wellington City Council’s Crown observer

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has named the person tasked with being Wellington City Council’s Crown observer.

Lindsay McKenzie, the former chief executive of the Tasman District Council and Gisborne District Council, has been appointed to the role.

Lindsay McKenzie is a former chief executive of the Tasman District Council.

McKenzie has significant governance and senior leadership experience in local government, Brown said.

“When Invercargill City Council was facing governance issues, Mr McKenzie was called upon as an external appointee to support its governance performance improvement programme.

“He also has strong financial acumen, which is reflected in his current appointment as an independent member of the Nelson City Council audit, risk and finance committee.”

Brown revealed he had sought advice on possible Government intervention after the Wellington City Council stopped the controversial sale of its 34% share in the airport – upending the Long Term Plan (LTP).

The council now has to amend the LTP and possibly cut hundreds of millions of dollars in capital spending to create additional debt headroom to respond to the insurance risks the airport sale was designed to solve.

Brown said the decision to appoint a Crown observer was not one he took lightly.

“However, my assessment is that the financial and behavioural challenges facing the council represent a significant problem as set out in Part 10 of the Local Government Act 2002.

“I have decided a Crown observer is necessary to better enable Wellington City Council to address their problems and allow me to monitor their progress in doing so.”

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has previously welcomed the Government’s move to appoint an observer.

She said the minister had fairly pointed out examples where councillors had walked out of meetings and she acknowledged the council had some tough decisions ahead in the next few months.

“We must do better,” she said.

Whanau’s colleagues were warned to “get on with it” and change their behaviour in their first public meeting since the Government decided to intervene.

The Long-Term Plan, finance and performance committee chairwoman, councillor Rebecca Matthews, told councillors she hoped their behaviour would improve.

“That has been highlighted to us by the minister and I think we all need to take that extremely seriously, so I ask that we all engage in the process in good faith.”

McKenzie’s term will begin on Wednesday and finish at the end of July 2025 or earlier if appropriate.

“Mr McKenzie will provide the support and advice necessary to assist the council as it delivers an amended Long-Term Plan that works for the city, its ratepayers, and communities”, Brown said.

Georgina Campbell is a Wellington-based reporter who has a particular interest in local government, transport, and seismic issues. She joined the Herald in 2019 after working as a broadcast journalist.