Page 21 - Peter Winder News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

“It’s hard to hear that council is destroying city’s pride,” councillor Laurie Foon said. Councillor Tamatha Paul put the council’s reputation bluntly: “We’re a bit of a joke around the country. We need to restore that mana.” Around the table, councillors mostly accepted the review’s blunt findings and several expressed relief that it wasn’t even harsher. MONIQUE FORD / STUFF/Stuff “The report was generous to us. We got off lightly,” councillor Simon Woolf said. Deputy Mayor Sarah Free was relieved to learn Winder did not believe ministerial intervention was requi...

Wellington City Council shake-up revealed following review 19 Apr, 2021 01:38 AM 3 minutes to read Wellington Mayor Andy Foster. Photo / Mark Mitchell Mayor Andy Foster has revealed a proposed shake-up at Wellington City Council following an independent governance review. Councillors Diane Calvert, Iona Pannett, Sean Rush, and Jill Day would be the chairs of four new committees under the plan. In a statement this afternoon Foster said elected representatives were being challenged to reset how they work. "In agreeing to the recommended structure and practices, we are determined to build trust ...

Wellington City Council shake-up a 'missed opportunity' 19 Apr, 2021 06:30 AM 7 minutes to read Wellington Airport. Photo / Bevan Conley ANALYSIS Some Wellington City councillors feel mayor Andy Foster has divided them further and missed a golden opportunity with his proposed shake-up of the council. Foster has ignored a recommendation of an independent review into the council's governance by appointing new committee chair roles himself, rather than through a facilitated process. He has overlooked pairings from opposite sides of the political spectrum like councillors Nicola...

Wellington City Council review finds council in need of a circuit breaker 16 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM 7 minutes to read Wellington Mayor Andy Foster. Photo / Mark Mitchell Wellington issues reporter, NZ Heraldgeorgina.campbell@nzme.co.nz Key recommendations made in an independent review of Wellington City Council (WCC) would essentially divide power among councillors, rather than relying on Mayor Andy Foster to find a majority. The Herald has obtained a copy of the report, which is expected to be made public next week. It examines relationships with the media, the lack of a working majority, Foste...

KEVIN STENT/Stuff Wellington City Councillor Simon Woolf says he fully supports the review’s recommendation to scrap councillor portfolios. (File photo) The report highlighted “concerning” suggestions that council officers felt unsafe when giving free and frank advice to councillors, and did not feel respected by them. There had also been instances of staff and councillors being publicly criticised, the report said. However, several councillors spoken to by Stuff on Thursday said the report’s findings were positive and offered a way forward. Simon Woolf said he had never agreed w...