Dogs are great, but so is following the rules

Stuff reports:

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has been bringing her dog to work, where it is not allowed.

The Post reports Whanau has been breaching the council’s tenancy agreement by bringing her dog, Teddy, to the office.

In an emailed response to The Post, her office confirmed the lease agreement the council had for its offices on The Terrace “does not allow animals on the premises”.

However, it said the council hadn’t received a formal breach notice from the landlord, nor had the landlord asked her to stop bringing the dog in.

Having dogs at work is a great idea. I love seeing photos of dogs at Parliament after Trevor Mallard changed the rules to allow them.

If WCC owned its own building, then the Mayor could bring her dog in, as well as Councillors and staff. That would be great.

But WCC have a legal lease agreement which bans animals from the premises.

The issue here is whether the Mayor is above the rules that apply to everyone else. Other Councillors have been told they can’t bring dogs in. No staff are allowed to bring their dogs in.

The fact the landlord hasn’t complained to the Council is irrelevant. The landlord may not even be aware. The Council has a legal obligation to not breach the lease terms.

The Council could have approached the landlord and asked for a waiver. They did not.

What is unclear is whether the Mayor was aware she was breaching the lease by bringing her dog in. Did no one on staff ever tell her? If so, then the staff are at fault, not her. But if the staff did tell her, and she decided the Mayor gets to ignore legal requirements, then she is at fault.