KDC Crown Manager withdrawn

Associate Minister of Local Government, Jacqui Dean, announced last week that she is withdrawing Crown Manager, Peter Winder, from the Kaipara District Council because of technical uncertainties about his appointment.

“The Kaipara District Council is transitioning well back to local governance, led by the strong leadership of the locally elected Mayor and Councillors. It is unfortunate I have to withdraw Peter Winder from his appointment as Crown Manager to the Council,” says Ms Dean.

According to the minister the withdrawal wass not a reflection of his actions but is due to technical uncertainties.

Peter Winder was appointed as Crown Manager to support the Kaipara District Council transition to elected governance in 2016 and was responsible for managing certain outstanding legal actions relating to past issues.

“Following an evaluation of assistance to the Council, there are concerns about potential technical flaws with the Crown Manager’s appointment and Terms of Reference,” says Ms Dean. “This does not bring into question prior actions of the Crown Manager, but if the role continued there would be uncertainty about the legality of future actions.”

Neither is the action a reflection on the performance of the Council she says, who is performing well and in an effective manner.

With ongoing support still needed to address the issues of the past, the Crown Observer, who was appointed in October 2016, will continue its support to the Council by providing governance advice and guidance.

In response to the news, New Zealand First Leader and Northland MP Winston Peters says “We told you so.”

“Mr Peter Winder, a former commissioner for the debt-ridden Kaipara District Council, should not have been appointed as Crown Manager as we pointed out in July last year.

“Mr Winder had done nothing for the ratepayers in the past. The fact is he was a government ‘mate’ and that’s how he got the position.”