The David Parker Affair: Baxendale Kept City's Councillors in The Dark Over Hardie Conflict
The Council confirmed Chief Executive played a role in John Hardie's appointment as investigator. She was told of Parker & Hardie's relationship but left the councillors unaware.
A Christchurch City Council disclosure shows Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale preferred John Hardie for the role of investigator. She made this choice despite a Ministry for the Environment official telling her about Hardie and Minister Parker’s longstanding friendship.
Dawn Baxendale pictured in The CEO Magazine
John Hardie was appointed in 2022 to the role of Crown investigator into the Council’s failure to notify rules allowing for greater housing intensification in Christchurch.
Controversy reigns over who appointed him and when.
According to a ministerial email sent to Baxendale, Environment Minister David Parker appointed his friend John Hardie to the role of Crown Investigator in October 2022.
Last week, MfE official Lesley Baddon refuted the claims. If true, it means Parker breached cabinet manual rules regarding conflicts of interest.
Lesley Baddon (source: Linked In)
Yesterday more information has come to hand regarding the MfE appointment process and the important role Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale played in his appointment.
In the lead-up to Hardie’s appointment, Baddon, the Director for Urban Infrastructure and Policy, says she and a second official and were in Christchurch on the 24th and 25th of October. They met Chief Executive Dawn Baxendale and newly appointed mayor Phil Mauger one occasion.
Yesterday, the Ministry wrote that “No details of any specific perceived or potential conflicts of interest were discussed.”
This statement completely contradicts the Council’s own response.
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