'Fiscal conservatives' back biggest rates hike in Super City history

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance says a bloc of supposedly centre-right councillors has helped ram through the biggest rates hike in Super City history, despite Auckland Council’s spending blowing out by nearly $1 billion since Wayne Brown’s first budget in 2023.

Josh Van Veen, a spokesman for the Ratepayers’ Alliance, said:

"Today’s disgraceful decision by Auckland Council’s Budget Committee, with support from the unelected Independent Māori Statutory Board, to approve a 7.9 percent rates rise is a betrayal of Auckland ratepayers."

“What makes this even worse is that some of the councillors who made it possible present themselves as centre-right and fiscally responsible. Aucklanders expect better from councillors elected on promises of restraint and value for money."

"Since Wayne Brown’s first budget in 2023, council spending has increased by nearly $1 billion — a staggering 28 percent blowout. That tells Aucklanders everything they need to know. This rates hike is not the product of careful budgeting. It is the product of a council that has failed to control its own spending."

"The Mayor claimed the 7.9 percent increase was entirely about paying for the City Rail Link, but today’s committee proceedings confirmed there were alternatives. Instead of cutting a bloated budget, the council majority chose to reach deeper into the pockets of already stretched households."

"Ratepayers have every right to ask why councillors who talk like conservatives keep voting like big spenders. Aucklanders were promised discipline. What they are getting is higher spending and a record rates increases."

The supposed centre-right councillors who voted Wayne Brown's record high rates increase were Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson, Councillor Victoria Short (Albany), Councillor Andy Baker (Franklin), Councillor Daniel Newman (Manurewa-Papakura), Councillor Matt Winiata (Manurewa-Papakura).