The Government has demonstrated its reluctance to place Christchurch City Council in the hands of commissioners by appointing a ‘Crown observer’ to assist the council.

On an eventful day, Friday, which also saw the council’s chief executive Tony Marryatt turn down his salary increase, newly appointed Local Government Minister Nick Smith said “effective governance has never been so important in the city's 150 year history”.

Dr Smith came to town to meet the council which has been called a few choice names recently, including ‘dysfunctional’ and later said appointing the Crown observer onto the council will help address governance issues and work to rebuild public confidence in the council.

The task has been assigned to Kerry Marshall, a highly regarded former president of Local Government New Zealand, the former mayor of both Nelson City and Tasman District councils, and a former Local Government Commissioner. His new job begins tomorrow.

Dr Smith said: “Effective governance has never been so important in the city’s 150 year history. I have emphasised to the council that people have a choice whether to stay or invest and they are looking to the council for effective leadership that will give them confidence in the future of Christchurch.

“The role of the Crown observer will be to rebuild good professional relationships between the Mayor, councillors and staff and to provide guidance on how they can effectively govern at this challenging time.

“He will help the council address widely-held concerns that its decision-making and governance roles are becoming dysfunctional. These failings cannot be left to undermine the valuable recovery work the council is doing. I hope that by working with the Crown observer, the council will make any consideration of further Government intervention in the council unnecessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt has instructed the council’s payroll office to stop paying him his salary increase.

He says his decision is based on what’s best for the council and its staff. 

“The negative publicity and public opinion has been tough for staff at the organisation and has the potential to distract this council from the very important task at hand of rebuilding our city,” Mr Marryatt said.

“I want to show my commitment to Christchurch, to the council and to all our staff. I want to lead our team through the rebuild. The councillors said (on Friday) they would work together collegially. If they can be true to this commitment, I will make a similar commitment in the same spirit of good faith and will give back any increase I’ve received to date,” he says.

“Now they have found a way forward I really want elected members and our staff to be working together as one team. There has been a lot of public opinion against the council’s decision to increase my salary. I don’t want the issue around my pay to affect the rebuild of this great city.”