An extra security allowance for local government elected members has been introduced by the Remuneration Authority heading into the elections this year.

Central Otago District mayor Tamah Alley said the council had already paid for a member to install a camera at their home address, following an obnoxious campaign that included items being left in their letterbox.

She said nationwide she had heard of dead animals, offensive publications and photos of themselves with their faces crossed or scribbled out left in their letterboxes or on their property.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell had the windscreen of her car smashed in her driveway, and another mayor has had death threats, which resulted in police intervention and safety planning at their home address.

The Remuneration Authority would introduce an allowance of up to $4,500 to cover elected members installing and monitoring a security system at home (the same figure as for MPs), plus $1000 annually for maintenance. The allowance would come into effect after the 2025 local elections.

LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said LGNZ has been advocating for new protections like the allowance given the significant increase in abuse, harassment and threatening behaviour.

“We provided information to the Remuneration Authority to support this decision, and we’re pleased the government is taking the issue of protecting elected members seriously,” she said.

“The rise of fringe groups, anonymity of online forums and polarising coverage is feeding increasing abuse of people elected to both central and local government. As well as online threats, elected members have been physically threatened or confronted.”

Tamah said Central Otago was a good example of a large and remote area that needed to maximise its resources to ensure a safe community.

“Central Otago District, all 9,968 square kilometres of it, is covered by a few on-call police officers based 30km apart. Feeling safe plays a big role in actual safety, and expectations of safety will be different for an older female to a young dad with kids, a large family or a person living alone, and they are also different between rural and urban areas.”

However, she wanted to reiterate that being an elected member was an awesome role and it was a privilege to serve the communities. 

“A few bad eggs shouldn’t put people off standing for their communities, and this option may go some way to mitigating concerns.”

She did not anticipate a huge uptake in the area for the allowance, “but it would be a great option for concerned elected members”.

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