Nick Clark: Wellington’s woes show need for local Government reform

When a council needs adult supervision, something has gone seriously wrong.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown's intention to appoint a Crown Observer to Wellington City Council reflects mounting frustration with the capital's governance. While intervention may provide temporary relief, it highlights deeper structural problems that require more fundamental reform.

Peter Dunne: Wellington our capital in crisis

Earlier this week, Wellington’s newspaper, The Post, launched a “conversation” inviting public responses about how Wellington could move on from the problems currently besetting it. The responses published so far show a level of fondness for the city, but a deep frustration at its current problems and the way they have been dealt with by recent Councils.

Peter Dunne: Let’s Get Wellington Moving

The essence of politics is often described as about the contest of ideas. But really the political process is primarily about the pursuit and retention of power. Without power, it is very difficult to promote, let alone implement, ideas, no matter how worthy they might be.

A good example of this occurred in Wellington last week when a high-level meeting was convened to consider the future of “Let’s Get Wellington Moving” (LGWM), a “vibrant plan” conceived in 2014 to “transform” Wellington’s transport future.