Former Wellington mayor honoured for service to local government

Local Government New Zealand is delighted to announce Kerry Prendergast as the winner of a local government EXCELLENCE Award for her commitment to local government.

Ms Prendergast was awarded the EXCELLENCE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Local Government at the LGNZ conference in Dunedin today. The awards, now in their third year, recognise and celebrate the outstanding leadership role local government plays within communities.

Ms Prendergast entered politics in 1986 when she was elected to the Tawa Borough Council. The immediacy of local representation and the chance to give back to the community in tangible ways sparked a 24-year career in local government, including nearly 20 years on the Wellington City Council with three terms as mayor.

She says it was almost inevitable she would go into local government. Her father was on the Tawa Borough Council long before she was elected and had always advocated for community service.

“You get to meet so many people and you get to give back,” she says.

“Giving back was one of the values instilled in me as a child, particularly from my father. I was always raised to believe you should give back to your community. In local government it is very immediate. You can make policy that can be implemented straight away and you get to work with the community on a daily basis.”

Among Council achievements under her leadership was establishing the city’s identity as “Creative Wellington – Innovation Capital”, the effects of which can be seen today as the capital continues to attract creative and technology companies and workers.

“It was not only to market the city to Wellingtonians but also to visitors,” she says.

“It was about understanding what you could do as a city, and promoting economic entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in small and medium enterprises – growing the economy. Basically I was an ambassador and advocate for the city.”

The Creative Wellington brand helped identify Wellington as an events and cultural capital.

Among other achievements from her time in local government Ms Prendergast cites securing $220 million from the Helen Clark Labour Government for social housing in Wellington, creating the waterfront boulevard of trees from the stadium to the Michael Fowler Centre, adding 20 sculptures to the city, and working to have the ASB Sports Centre in Kilbernie built as particularly proud achievements.

Local Government New Zealand President Lawrence Yule says Ms Prendergast’s contribution has been significant, and she is still giving back.

“Kerry has been a stalwart of Wellington and through her hard work over a long period helped define how the city would be seen by locals and visitors alike. This outstanding achievement award is thoroughly deserved,” Mr Yule says.

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