Comments on: Council’s new chief executive starts in March; $400,000 a year for five years

By: Pepe Robertson

Pepe Robertson — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:52:47 +0000

Why on earth the council is employing people from overseas is beyond my very simple understanding and especially when money is scarce and unemployment is high in NZ. What is wrong with our own home grown well educated fresh thinking strong leaders? They would have much better knowledge and understanding of our local communities and their multicultural makeup. What do we have in common with Cornwall and Newcastle I ask. Are the council not embarrassed to pay a lot of money (my rates) to bring someone from overseas to do a job that a local person could do.

By: Bryan Gould

Bryan Gould — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:31:32 +0000

Lesley Longstone was a victim - as were we all - of a syndrome that is now well entrenched - the apparent belief that a half-way competent UK public official with little chance of reaching the top in Britain (as witness the willingness to come to New Zealand) would be good enough to do a wonderful job for us. Never mind that knowledge of New Zealand and of our particular requirements might be lacking. The only criterion that matters, it seems, is that the appointee should have demonstrated commitment to the correct ideological positions. [Extracted from NZ Herald article - read his comments in full here.]