A former executive says ex staff and his family are 'jumping for joy' at the news of the resignation of the Gore council's longtime boss. Vaneesa Bellew reports
The resignation of Gore District Council chief executive Stephen Parry after 22 years in the job has bought closure for Doug Walker.
Walker, the former Gore District Council chief financial officer who claims he was bullied at the council, says Parry’s resignation “will help the healing.
“It will close the chapter for sure and let a lot of us move on,” he says.
But Walker, speaking from his UK home, says it would have been “nice” if Parry had resigned years ago after he made an unannounced visit to his London home, which was the subject of a complaint.
In a statement issued yesterday, on behalf of Mayor Ben Bell and councillors, Councillor Richard McPhail, said the organisation was “grateful” to Parry for his tremendous work over the years.
"He has been a champion for Gore and its ratepayers and a senior figure on Southland's local government landscape," McPhail said.
Parry’s “extensive experience and high degree of professionalism would be missed,” he said.
"Steve has a wealth of knowledge and is well respected in local government circles."
During his time in local government, Parry served as president of Taituarā, when it was the Society of Local Government Managers, as well as Australasian vice-president of ICMA, an international association for local government professionals.
Parry, a former Waitomo mayor and Department of Corrections manager, has been at the council since 2001.
In an email to staff on Monday, Parry expressed his pride in serving as chief executive - and the culture that has been forged at the council.
"I leave with no regrets and a fair degree of excitement about what lies ahead," he said.
He plans to take time to reflect and set priorities and challenges for 2024.
Parry tendered his resignation on Friday and will leave the role on October 31.
The resignation follows a tumultuous 10 months at the council.
His and Bell’s frayed relationship was made public, there was a shock resignation of a long-standing councillor, a petition calling for Parry’s resignation and a failed vote of no confidence in the mayor.
In May, a Newsroom inquiry found multiple ex-staff over nearly two decades believed they were bullied while working for the Gore council or subjected to what they believed was a toxic work culture.
Many of the ex-staff have received settlements from the council and signed non-disclosure agreements so are unable to talk publicly about their experience.
Parry later said the bullying claims made by ex-staff were “extremely hurtful and stressful.”
Doug Walker is one of four ex-staff who lodged a complaint against the council with the Department of Labour, who in 2008 issued it with an improvement notice.
The department did not prosecute but found the council had no processes in place for addressing allegations of workplace stress due to bullying.
After Walker left the council he and his young family decided to move to London for a new start.
But Parry turned up unannounced at his London home and Walker claims his former boss was rude and threatening.
Since news of Parry’s resignation, Walker says he’s received loads of messages, from ex-council staff, family and friends.
“They were cheering for joy, everyone is really happy, everyone is over the moon.”
His wife “jumped for joy” when she heard the news, says Walker.
“She was really, really happy because she has felt the impact over the years herself and she’s had to support me.
Moving to London for a “fresh start” with his wife and then five-year-old daughter was hard but they had thrived overseas.
“In a way, as much the Gore situation was really horrific for all of us, we have all bounced back and we are all doing really, really well over here.
“It will close the chapter I believe, not just for me but for a lot of ex-staff.
Walker says change will be good for Gore.
“Twenty two years is a long, long time and in that respect, I think it is good for Gore to get fresh blood in,” he says.
But there will be lots of challenges for the new chief executive, says Walker.
“I hope good candidates aren’t put off by what has been going on in Gore.
The council’s high rates and record debt would be a challenge for Parry’s replacement, says Walker.
“I hope they have really good financial skills
“Hopefully they can get someone in who can turn that ship around.”
Walker isn’t surprised by Parry’s resignation.
“I always thought he would have to go, the petition, the protest and all that.
“I have always followed the council and seen what was going on and what was happening with him and I always wondered if there ever was going to be a day that he goes, even for getting a bigger promotion to another council.”
Walker hopes the leadership change will encourage other ex-staff who stayed on the “sidelines and who were too nervous to speak out” before about their experience will now have the courage to tell their stories.
“I believe it is trauma stopping them from wanting to tell their story,” he says.
Bell said the council was hopeful Parry would assist with the transition to a new chief executive.
Recruitment for Parry’s replacement would commence immediately, he said.
"The process will take about six months, which means we will be looking to appoint an interim chief executive in due course," said Bell.
In the October local elections, Bell ousted long-standing mayor Tracy Hicks by a handful of votes.
However, the relationship between Bell and Parry soon soured.
In March it was revealed the pair were no longer speaking and McPhail was acting as an intermediary.
The 4858-signature petition organised by Gore local Sean Burke calling for Parry’s resignation came on the back of a proposed vote of no confidence in Bell.
Hundreds of Gore residents, including supporters from outside the district, protested outside the May council meeting at which the no-confidence vote was to be put.
However, councillors decided not to put the matter to the vote and instead agreed to an independent review.
In June, Bell and the councillors issued a written statement apologising to Parry for hurt caused and for a breach of privacy that occurred earlier this year.
Parry accepted their apology.
The apology is believed to have followed mediation between Parry, Bell and councillors.
The independent review to restore confidence in the local body is yet to start. It was expected to be completed by the middle of this month but the terms of reference are yet to get council sign-off.
Last night, Walker questioned if the review would still go ahead.
“It almost seems pointless now doesn’t it?”
