For a party that ran its campaign on devolving decision making to the regions, this is massive overreach.
I know first hand the infrastructure problems facing Wellington but the council literally only just had the vote. They need to be given the opportunity to find solutions, and go back to the public for consultation, rather than being blackmailed by the minister. Very much comes across as “do as I say, or else” given their hard on for asset sales.
Wellington City Council is a bit of a mess, but I don’t think things are bad enough to warrant going back to the polls.
The council members themselves have definitely been in the news too much though.
I’m guessing some of the governments large donors had plans to buy the airport?
Nactional Fist have (over the decades now) campaigned against “Wellington” interfering with the regions. But in practice they are the group that most commonly restricts local democracy. ECAN is one of the most obvious examples but more recently its things like taking away 3 Waters funding, and then in campaigning mode arguing that the answer was they would hold local councils to account for water failures.
They have the corrupt-adjacent fast track legislation reviving zombie projects that locals had already fought and defeated, sacking boards and replacing them with a crony commissioner and now attacks on elected councils. Wellington City Council may well have problems but it is for the people of Wellington who elected that council to do something about it. Not more interference from the Fist.
