Good Results Coming from Portfolios System

A new system of councillor portfolios is already starting to yield good results, says Mayor Peter Tennent.


When the new council was sworn in on 30 October, each councillor was assigned to portfolios that focused on a number of areas of the council’s work.

Councillors meet with the relevant managers on a regular basis to discuss what is happening, with all councillors meeting once a month to update each other.

“I’m impressed with the amount of two-way communication that has opened up between councillors and managers through this portfolio system and how everyone is making suggestions on how to improve the way this council does business,” says Mayor Peter Tennent.

“These meetings cover any initiatives that are being contemplated, any potential savings or efficiencies – in short, how we can do better.

“We have a lot of experience around the council table and in managers’ offices. The trick is maximising the benefit of that combined experience, and more particularly our combined networks.

“Obviously this is great news for the community – which is actually the source of most of those ideas.”

The portfolio system does not preclude councillors from being involved in areas to which they are not assigned. “What the portfolios do allow is each councillor to become totally conversant with all aspects of an area of operations, and have a good overview of others,” says the Mayor.

“That helps address the biggest problem for councillors and managers: That there are only 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week to do this job well!”

The public is welcome to contact any elected members – community board members, councillors or the Mayor – to discuss an issue, regardless of the portfolio allocations.

The portfolios are:


Parks and Reserves: Craig McFarlane and John McLeod.
Pools: Neil Wolfe and Shaun Biesiek.
Stadia: Jed Rowlands and Phil Quinney.
Roading/transport: Heather Dodunski and Marie Pearce.
Water/wastewater/landfills: Heather Dodunski and Sherril George.
Communications: Lance Girling-Butcher and Phil Quinney.
Economic development: Maurice Betts and Andrew Judd.
Community development: Heather Dodunski and Alison Rumball.
Puke Ariki/Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye: Lance Girling-Butcher and Maurice Betts.
Rural issues: Marie Pearce and Alison Rumball.
Green issues: Sherril George and Alison Rumball.
Surplus land: Craig McFarlane and Neil Wolfe.
Youth issues: Andrew Judd and Shaun Biesiek.
Iwi issues: John McLeod and Jed Rowlands.
Senior citizen issues: Lance Girling-Butcher and Alison Rumball.
Regulatory issues: Phil Quinney and Deputy Mayor Alex Matheson.
Floating over all portfolios: The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.