Ousted Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton is resigning as president of Local Government NZ.
Broughton announced his resignation this morning.
He had been seeking a fourth term as mayor of the Selwyn District but lost in a landslide to one-term councillor Lydia Gliddon, with Broughton receiving 5277 votes to Gliddon’s 19,129.
Broughton has declined to speak to Local Democracy Reporting since the election result.
In a statement issued through LGNZ, Broughton said he announced his resignation at Mayors School in Wellington.
“[Mayors school] brings together mayors from around the country to equip them with the information and tools they need for the job in the first 100 days.
“I will transition out and hand over to that new board once LGNZ’s new National Council is up and running.
“National Council sets LGNZ’s direction and strategy – it’s LGNZ’s governing board.”
Broughton was elected as LGNZ president in 2023, and his tenure will come to an end at the LGNZ national council meeting in early December.
LGNZ was set up to represent the interests of councils.
The role comes with an honorarium payment equivalent to 33.3% of the salary of the highest paid mayor in New Zealand, as well as covering the costs associated with LGNZ-related travel.
The highest mayor’s salary is that of Auckland’s Wayne Brown at $306,952 per annum. Based on this, the LGNZ president receives $102,215.
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
