The Whakatāne District Council paid out $224,785 to departing staff in the year to June. Photo / LDR
The Whakatāne District Council paid out $224,785 to departing staff in the year to June. Photo / LDR
The Whakatāne District Council paid out five severance packages totalling $224,785 over the year ending June 30.
Its Annual Report 2024-2025, adopted at a meeting last week, showed departing staff members received amounts of $66,303, $34,440, $74,042, $10,000 and $40,000.
The total payout was up 700% from the previous year,when $28,028 was paid across two staff members.
Just one payment of $5309 was made in the 2022-2023 year.
Councillor Toni Boynton noted at the meeting that the report showed there had been no employment disputes.
She said the payments were understandable due to the new leadership and staff who departed.
The Whakatāne council saw a change of chief executive last year, with Stephanie O’Sullivan taking up a new position as chief executive of Waipā District Council.
Former general manager of strategy and transformation Steven Perdia was appointed to the Whakatāne council’s top role.
