4.5 Council staff

Employment of council staff

All Auckland Council staff — including those in the Office of the Mayor [1] — are employed by the chief executive or someone acting under their delegated authority [2]. 

Staff may be employed: 

• permanently (full-time or part-time) 
• on a fixed-term, temporary, part-time or casual basis 

Employment decisions must follow Auckland Council’s recruitment and remuneration policies. 

Public Service Association (PSA) 

• Auckland Council has a Relationship Agreement with the PSA, the largest union representing its employees. 
• Staff may choose to join the PSA. 
• Employees up to Band H who join the PSA are covered by a collective employment agreement rather than an individual agreement. 

Roles and responsibilities of council staff 

Political neutrality

With the exception of the mayoral political staff, all council staff must be apolitical [3]. 

Staff must remain politically impartial, especially when: 

• giving advice to elected members 
• communicating with the public. 

Quality advice

Staff must follow the council’s Quality Advice Standards [4]. These standards require advice to be: 

• focused on the decision-maker 
• backed by credible options and analysis 
• simple and concise. 

Staff conduct expectations

Council staff must comply with council policies and act in accordance with the following principles [5]: 

Professional, impartial, ethical and honest 

• Act lawfully and in line with council policies. 
• Disclose any potential conflicts of interest. 
• Behave honestly and with integrity. 

Respectful and courteous

• Avoid threatening, offensive, abusive, bullying or harassing language or behaviour. 
• Respect confidentiality and protect people’s privacy. 
• Value diversity and treat everyone fairly. 

Accountable and trustworthy

• Never misuse council property or funds. 
• Keep people and council property safe. 
• Handle information securely and only for appropriate purposes. 
• Comply with the council’s Gifts and Inducements policy. 

Delegations

Council staff operate under the chief executive’s delegated authority. These delegations are outlined in the Chief Executive’s Delegation Register. 

Relationship between council staff and elected members

Staff provide elected members with comprehensive advice to enable informed and competent decision-making. Effective governance depends on mutual respect and cooperation. 

Elected members [6] (including the mayor) must: 

• recognise the chief executive is the employer of staff 
• understand and observe the council’s obligations as an employer 
• treat all staff with courtesy and respect 
• follow any guidelines set by the chief executive regarding staff contact 
• avoid compromising a staff member’s impartiality 
• not publicly criticise employees, especially in ways that reflect their competence or integrity 
• raise staff concerns only with the chief executive, and concerns about the chief executive only with the mayor or relevant committee 
• not try to improperly influence staff in the course of their work. 

Raising concerns 

If an elected member has a concern about a staff member they should raise it with the chief executive, not the staff member directly. This can be done in writing or verbally. 

Ongoing or serious concerns can also be raised via the CEO Review Committee.

Footnotes

[1] For information about Mayoral Office staff see [Section 4.3]. 

[2] Local Government Act 2002 s 42(2)(g). 

[3] See [Sections 10.2 to 10.4]. 

[4] Attached document below 

[5] Auckland Council Code of Conduct. 

[6] Code of Conduct for Elected Members, 7.2.