So it is with the state of Dunedin’s economic development and destination marketing agency Enterprise Dunedin. Late last week it received an excoriating review for losing its way, with perceptions from stakeholders of it becoming mired in the bureaucracy of the Dunedin City Council and being meddled with by city councillors.
The review, by the consultancy MyGovernance, unearthed a veritable cornucopia of woes and ways in which the agency has become increasingly irrelevant and disconnected from the city’s business sector.
Despite those troubles, the assessors made it clear Enterprise Dunedin has staff who are respected, trusted, capable and passionate, and Dunedin Inc remains a strong and easily identifiable brand.
Those aspects are obviously good news. But while it is pleasing to find the unit’s employees are not being made scapegoats for its failings in some lazy and convenient manner, somehow it makes the review’s findings even more alarming.
What this means, therefore, is we have an agency which, despite the best efforts of its experienced and qualified staff, is unable to effectively progress its work because the environment in which it operates has usurped and obstructed it.
It was definitely a good thing that Cr Andrew Whiley initiated the assessment last November. As chairman of the city council’s economic development committee, he had been hearing about the amount of frustration towards the agency and the council from business leaders.
Back then, councillors expressed concerns at the potential cost of the review and some felt it was unnecessary. While the resolution was passed, Crs David Benson-Pope, Christine Garey, Marie Laufiso and Carmen Houlahan voted against it.
Cr Whiley told the Otago Daily Times on Saturday he had no idea at the time what the reviewers might uncover. However, a review was going to help pinpoint areas which needed significant change and those which were working well.
"Wake up, as Christchurch will eat us" was the view of one commenter. Some in the business sector declared they had lost confidence in the council, whose troubles were affecting Enterprise Dunedin. Those surveyed also believed there was "no clear or consistently communicated vision or purpose" and the council held "an innate distrust of business".
Anonymous councillors said Enterprise Dunedin was lost and confused, under-resourced and "put-upon by governance". There was a "lack of political bravery". Interestingly, redacted interviews about engagement with management concluded "interference or direct influence by councillors is ongoing".
Specific comments about the agency were about the perception it had become a "jack of all trades, master of none" and it had a lack of marketing expertise. The summary of feedback said it was "hindered by unclear direction, weak governance and political influence".
Enterprise Dunedin cannot be allowed to continue as a unit within the council, where it risks being tampered with by councillors and senior staff. Much better for it to be reshaped as a council-controlled organisation at arm’s length, responsible to a board and an advisory group.
At their meeting yesterday, councillors decided to proceed with investigating and consulting on the CCO option and a rebuilt status quo model with some functions shifted elsewhere in the council. The agency’s future will eventually be determined by the next council.
It has not been a good year for Enterprise Dunedin — and now we know what contributing factors towards that may have been. There were controversial promotional video clips which had to be taken down and an AI-generated social media image for next month’s Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire.
As we all know, Dunedin is a great destination with so many things going for it. There is no shortage of attractions to promote, many of which other New Zealand centres would give their eye teeth to have on the books.
We should not allow the city’s growth and opportunities to be curtailed because of dysfunction and unnecessary intrusion from the council.
