8 October 2013
For Immediate Release
Greens Celebrate Harcourt’s Building stalemate
The unhelpful attitude held by council officers towards its residents and ratepayers has permeated down from the top as
highlighted by a triumphant email from the sitting Greens councillor Iona Pannett on the Environment Court decision on
the Harcourt’s Building.
Mayoral candidate John Morrison has slammed the Greens candidate for Lambton for her congratulatory email to council
officers for achieving a further stalemate on the Harcourt’s Building.
Pannett’s email was addressed to council officer Warren Ulusele and said: “Thanks Warren, fantastic outcome. Well done
to the team, staff, experts and lawyers. Kind regards. Iona,”
“The current Mayor and the rest of the Greens want to stop everything, do nothing. There’s no attempt at an imaginative
solution for investors who want to get the city moving again,” Morrison said.
“This is a classic example of a ‘them and us’ mentality and culture that exists in the council at the moment. Anyone
trying to do anything will run into it when they have to come face-to-face with the council.
“The current leadership and the behind-the-scenes manipulation by the Greens has encouraged councillor officers to stop
everything and do nothing. They pat themselves on the back when they have a ‘win’ against a citizen or ratepayer. The
staff has forgotten their job is to provide a service to the people of Wellington and they’ve forgotten how to do good
positive things,” Morrison said
Good examples of council in conflict with its citizens included parking, planning issues, building consents, dog
control, and encroachment licences.
Morrison said the seven out of 10 Wellingtonians who had not yet voted had until mid-day on Saturday to fill in their
papers and he urged them to put (1) next to his name, or face three more years of the same.
In the case of the Harcourt’s building Ulusele informed councillors:
“We have received a decision from the Environment Court (copy attached) regarding the proposed demolition of the
Harcourt’s building. We have not had time to read through the decision in detail but the Court has upheld the
Commissioners’ decision to decline consent for the demolition.
“We will need to review the decision more fully and consider the implications of this decision in terms of earthquake
strengthening of the city’s buildings and the balance with owners’ needs for financial viability.”
ENDS