Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt is defending leaving a council meeting early to play golf, saying he needs his "downtime".
The meeting's agenda included various earthquake reports, a heritage reinstatement programme, a facilities rebuild plan, infrastructure rebuilds and wastewater pipe renewal.
Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button said Marryatt took a half day's annual leave to play in the 2012 Pro-Am Tournament and is paying all expenses himself.
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She said it is traditional for the chief executive to play and Marryatt won the tournament two years ago and came runner up last year.
TV ONE's Close Up programme tracked down Marryatt on the golf course.
He said he was not involved in the reports presented at the meeting and that there were other experienced managers present.
"I don't need to be there every day, every minute of the day," he said. "I don't think I'm any use to the city if I worked 24/7 and dropped dead.
"I've got to try and get some balance in life and some relaxation so that I can keep doing the job that I'm trying to do."
The tournament is being held at Pegasus Golf Course as part of the New Zealand Women's Open which starts tomorrow.
Marryatt's golfing habit also came under fire last month when it was revealed he played golf on two weekends he claimed to have worked on after the February earthquake.
Plans to give him a $68,000 pay rise led to huge a mass protest by ratepayers. Marryatt subsequently turned down the rise.
The Government has put the council on notice and appointed an observer.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentwriterman said on 2012-02-17 @ 08:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
Marryat is an overpaid freeloader and the sooner he his chucked out and replaced the better.
SharleneN said on 2012-02-16 @ 22:39 NZDT: Report abusive post
This guy is a joke!!! He needs to go if he thinks playing golf is more important than attending meetings he is paid way too much to go to! He has already been caught out playing golf twice while saying he was involved in earthquake stuff.
Nostranormus said on 2012-02-16 @ 22:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
(Tony Marratt) "Well I need my downtime (snawf snarf)...hmmm I smell truffles". You a#$eclown, it's a damn privelige to be in the position you are, earning your big bickies, and not doing a lick of work for it. 24/7..lol, thats minutes right?... Unbelievable. You should be glued to your frikin chair for the salary you're on.