“The legal costs incurred relating to employment proceedings amounted to $220,115.21. The costs relating to this matter incurred by elected members amounted to $533.88. The Settlement Agreement payment awarded to Mr King was $200,000. The cost of recruitment of the new CEO amounted to $57,426.33.”
Blair King was in the job for
just 11 months. His relationship with Mayor “Moko” Tepania disintegrated
within weeks of the Mayor being elected in October 2022. According to the NZ
Herald, the tension escalated after a disagreement over the request by Tepania
to appoint a strategic adviser was declined by King. Things came to a head at a
public meeting shortly after. King claimed the comments made at that meeting
and the council’s actions that followed amounted to constructive
dismissal. The Employment Relations
Authority agreed but also said both parties were responsible for the breakdown
in relations.
Photo credit: Mayor Moko Tepania facebook page