The Auditor-General has launched an inquiry into severance payments made by the eight Auckland local authorities to departing chief executives before they are replaced by the super city council on October 31.The inquiry follows a request from Local Govern
The Auditor-General has launched an inquiry into severance payments made by the eight Auckland local authorities to departing chief executives before they are replaced by the super city council on October 31.
The inquiry follows a request from Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and will look into the extent and nature of severance payments and the process which led to these payments being made, a statement from the Auditor-General's Office said.
The inquiry will look into the nature and extent of any payments or other arrangements related to the end of employment and how these relate to chief executives' contractual terms and conditions.
It will also look into the "process and timing" of severance payment decisions by the eight local authorities and whether the agreement of the Auckland Transition Agency was obtained for any modifications in chief executives' terms and conditions made since the legislation dissolving the local authorities was enacted.
The Auditor General had always intended to look into payments made to chief executives at the end of their employment but decided to launch the inquiry early due to the minister's request and parliamentary and public interest in the payments, the statement said.
