“Corrections and errors took a lot of time,” Genet said. “The valuations required more work, and there was some double handling and delays.” Genet told the committee “the budget blow out was not new and had also happened in previous years”. Asked if it would be better next year, Genet replied that “a level of this was down to preparation”. Audit NZ spokesperson Mike Heine told The Timaru Herald the final bill could be negotiable and Office of the Auditor General local government sector manager Hugh Jory said “our office will consider and moderate a solution – ultimately it is a conversation”.