Information relating to 2024/2025 Financial Year - 2026 Ratepayers' Report 2/3 (Our ref. 894).
We have decided to release the information you have requested; - please see our answers below in blue.
I request the following information for the 2024/25 Financial Year:
1. Personnel as at 30 June 2025
- The total number of council staff dismissed due to poor performance in the financial year. 0
- The total FTE number of staff employed by the council, excluding council-controlled organisations. 57.97
- If applicable, the FTE number of staff employed by CCOs. 0
- The total number of staff (non-FTE, including casual staff). If applicable, include CCOs separately. 66
- The total number of staff including those employed by CCOs receiving remuneration in excess of $100,000. 22
- The total number of staff including those employed by CCOs receiving remuneration in excess of $200,000. 3
- The total number of staff including those employed by council-controlled organisations receiving remuneration in excess of $256,800 (equivalent to a Cabinet minister). 1
- The mean and median renumeration for Council staff. Mean $79,654 Median $67,058
- The mean and median renumeration for CCO staff. 0
2.1. Management
- The FTE number of managers employed by the council and, if applicable, the number of managers employed by CCOs as at 30 June 2025. Council 12.88, CCO 0
- The Taxpayers’ Union defines a manager as: any staff member who is responsible for a team of staff, or who has an employee/employees reporting to them and organises them to achieve their department’s or organisation’s specified goal. The Chief Executive team is included in this definition.
- The ratio of management to total staff numbers. If applicable, please provide a ratio for the group, including CCOs, and a ration for the council parent. Council 12.88/57.97 = 22% CCO 0
- The average and median salary of a manager. If applicable, please provide for both the group, including CCOs, and the council parent. Council average $166,047 median $158,497 CCO $0
2.2. Communications
- The FTE number of communications & marketing staff employed by the council and, if applicable, the number of communications & marketing staff employed by CCOs. Council 3.63 CCO 0
- The average and median salary of communications & marketing staff. If applicable, please provide for both the group, including CCOs, and the council parent. Council average $89,434 median $89,341 CCO $0
3. Audit and Risk Oversight
- How many members are on the Council’s Audit and Risk Committee (or equivalent)? 9
- Of those members, how many are elected and how many are independent of the council? 1 independent, 8 elected members
- Is the Chair of the Committee an independent member? Yes
- Does the Council have a lawyer (with a current practising certificate) on the Committee? No
- Does the Council have an accountant (with a current practising certificate or a full member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand) on the Committee? Yes
- Does the Council have a code of conduct requiring political neutrality from Council staff? Yes
4. Unelected members
- Please list all appointments of unelected members onto council committees with spending and regulatory powers. We do not have any.
5. Payments to third parties
- The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to any Chamber of Commerce, including GST. $83,476
- The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), including GST. $36,809
- The total payments made by the Council (or any council-controlled organisation) to the Taituarā including GST. $25,621
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.