NZ Transport Agency has paid law firm Meredith Connell more than $7 million for compliance review work over an eight-month period.
The firm has invoiced NZTA a total of $7,221,290.02 between November 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, as disclosed in an Official Information Act request.
NZTA regulatory general manager Kane Patena says the costs “include business-as-usual legal advice as well as Meredith Connell’s work to assist the Transport Agency with the review of 850 open compliance files, enforcement of our regulatory role, and costs involved with Steve Haszard’s role as the acting [regulatory manager]”.
Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett told Stuff that change was needed but the costs are concerning.
“Our preference would be an in-house legal team because they can have relationships and build up years of knowledge,” he says.
NZTA has completed the first phase of its regulatory compliance review, clearing the original backlog of 850 open compliance cases and significantly improving its internal processes.
Haszard’s role ended in April but he has remained onboard in an advisory position.
Patena is now leading the regulatory function at the Agency, having taken over from Meredith Connell, which was appointed by board chair Michael Stiassny in October 2018.
