Several months ago, Tony Marryatt left his job as CEO of Christchurch City Council, following a falling out with Mayor Bob Parker (now Sir Bob) and others. As part his severance deal, it appears that Marryatt agreed to resign also from the board of Civic Assurance (more correctly, of the parent, Local Government Insurance Corporation Limited), the Council's insurer (yes, that sounds like a conflict of interest to me as well). 

Marryatt did fufill his commitment to resign from the LGIC board as required. However, he was reappointed immediately. Wow, this sounds like a highly unusual decision process, to say the least. Some serious questions need to be asked. Two that spring to mind are:
  • Why did Marryatt allow his name to be considered for reappointment, when many questions hung over his reputation and recent performance? (Marryatt's unhappy departure from the CEO role was not his first.)
  • Why did the LGIC appointment panel even consider Marryatt as a candidate, let alone immediately re-appoint him?

The matter raises many more questions as well, mostly about the quality of governance practice and decision-making at LGIC. LGIC is owned by several local councils, a sector that has endured a few failures of governance in recent times. Transparency and accountability are crucial if the confidence of the public is to be maintained. Hopefully the LGIC board will put its collective ego (and political motivations?) to one side and commission an independent evaluation, of its appointment process and its overall performance.