November 22, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
RATEPAYER GROUPS SHUT OUT OF PHIL GOFF'S WASTHAVEN ANNOUNCEMENT
22 NOVEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is welcoming the Labour Party’s decision to put up a strong candidate in Phil Goff to replace its existing Mayor in Auckland, but note that no ratepayer group was invited to today’s announcement.
Jo Holmes, spokesperson for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance says:
“We are deeply saddened that not a single ratepayer group in our network was invited to today’s announcement. If it's an indication of Mr Goff’s attitude toward ratepayers, he’s never going to rebuild the trust shattered by Len Brown."
“Few will doubt that Phil Goff has the experience for the job, but he needs to be very careful not to make campaign promises without clear plans of how they are going to be paid for.”
ENDS
November 13, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
COUNCILLORS SHOULD ABOLISH REGULATORY TAX
13 NOVEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling on Councillors to abolish the regulatory tax imposed by the Mana Whenua provisions in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, following the Auckland Council Development Committee’s vote to suspend 600 Sites of Value from the Plan.
Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says:
“Uncertainty persists for thousands of Auckland ratepayers affected by the Sites of Value that remain in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. Homeowners are facing significant costs and delays in order to consult with upwards of 15 different iwi to do home repairs or put up a fence.”
“Ratepayers are frustrated with the failure of Council to guarantee their property rights. In the 12 hours prior to the Councillors’ vote, more than 2,000 Aucklanders used our email tool to voice their concerns to councillors.”
“In the lead up to next year's council elections, we are calling on candidates to outline where they stand on these controversial provisions. Aucklanders deserve to know whether their representatives are going to legislate in favour of the metaphysical and imaginary over the rights of ratepayers prior to going to the ballot.”
ENDS
November 09, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
RATEPAYERS URGE COUNCIL TO DITCH PLANNING RULES COVERING THE METAPHYSICAL
9 NOVEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is hoping Thursday’s vote to reduce the number of ’sites of value’ to local iwi in the Unitary Plan is a sign of more to come. The sites, which are part of the Unitary Plan’s “Mana Whenua” provisions require property owners to check with sometimes more than 13 iwi groups to verify that their resource consent application does not require a ‘cultural impact assessment’. Cultural impact assessments, or “CIAs” can impose conditions or veto consents and cover historical in cultural matters, including the ‘metaphysical’ considerations of iwi.
Jo Holmes, a spokesperson for the Ratepayers’ Alliance, says:
“Seldom does it seem ratepayers get a win from this Mayor and Council, but Auckland property owners will welcome the removal of the 1,373 sites, and hope it is a sign of things to come.”
"We are calling Councillors to do the right thing, follow the advice of the Arcelogical Association, and scrap the provisions entirely."
In April the Ratepayers’ Alliance joined the Democracy Action, the Taxpayers’ Union, and the Property Investers’ Federation in launching a report entitled “The Taniwha Tax” which outlines the impact of the Mana Whenua provisions. The report can be downloaded from the Ratepayers’ Alliances website.
ENDS
November 05, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
FINANCES SHOULD BE CENTRE-PIECE OF GOFF MAYORAL RACE
5 NOVEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is welcoming the expected announcement from Labour's Phil Goff that he will be putting his hat in the ring to be the next Mayor of Auckland. Carmel Claridge, Spokesperson for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, says:
“While many of our members will welcome Labour replacing Len Brown for another candidate, we need to see a credible plan to end Auckland Council's high rates, high debt, trajectory."
“Right now Auckland Council owes creditors more on a per person basis than any other council in New Zealand. Even Christchurch ratepayers have a smaller per capita debt burden.”
“All Super City mayoral candidates will need credible plans which set out how they are going to pay for their promises. If Mr Goff is running on promises of transport spending, we just want to know how he plans to pay for it. After 9.9% rate hikes and with more borrowing out of the question, dipping deeper into ratepayers' pockets isn’t an option."
October 13, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
IS MEXICO CITY JUNKET REASON FOR JOINING CLIMATE CHANGE GROUP?
13 OCTOBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Thursday Auckland Council’s Development Committee will be debating whetherto join a coalition of cities to share information on climate change. The group, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, is to gather in Mexico City next year.
Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson Jo Holmes says:
"Despite Council Officers claiming that membership of the Group comes at no additional cost, it is clear that sending a group of Councillors and Council officials to Mexico City will cost tens of thousands of ratepayer dollars - money that will have already been earmarked for the development of Auckland. We need a Super City looking after Auckland, not one determined to get involved in international diplomacy."
“It’s not clear how ratepayers paying for an Auckland Mayor and his entourage to join up with a new group of cities, in addition to the existing 19 sister cities, is going to solve climate change. Any relevant information from the conference can be provided by sister cities Los Angeles and Guangzhou who are already members of the Group.”
The Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance call on Auckland’s Mayor and Councillors to focus on their core responsibilities of providing infrastructure to meet the city’s development needs and reject placing yet another cost onto already cash strapped ratepayers.
Help us stop this unnecessary waste of ratepayers' money. Sign the petition here.
October 08, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
COUNCILLORS SHOULDN'T ENTERTAIN TPPA STUNT COSTING RATEPAYERS
8 OCTOBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is telling Auckland Council to stick to its knitting after today’s Regional Strategy and Policy Committee was hijacked by Councillor Wayne Walker who put forward a Notice of Motion with a number of recommendations for the committee to consider regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Jo Holmes, a Spokesperson for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, says:
“While many ratepayers may be against the TPPA deal, or want more information from the Government, very few will appreciate Auckland Council sticking its beak in and wasting more of ratepayers' money debating matters they have no jurisdiction over.”
“At the meeting members of the Council were calling this stunt a total waste of ratepayer money. Instead of wasting two hours, or around $40,000 on discussing the TPPA, Councillors could go do something useful instead - mow a few berms perhaps."
“Len Brown and his Council should leave international relations to Wellington. We don’t need to pay twice."
October 02, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
SUPER CITY DEBT A TICKING
TIME BOMB
2 OCTOBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Auckland Council’s debt per person is now so high that it makes the failed Kaipara District Council look prudent, according to an Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance 'Ratepayers' Briefing released today. The paper, by Moritz Miersch, reports on the total liabilities incurred since the formation of the Super City and compares the same to Kaipara in 2012 when Government commissioners were appointed.
Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says:
“Auckland Council now have $10.09 billion in liabilities. To put this in perspective, it’s around $20,000 the Council owes per Auckland household.”
“Despite record low interests rates, the Council's finance costs in 2014/15 amounted to $422 million. The Council's books are extremely vulnerable when the rates inevitably rise."
“Len Brown’s fiscal management has increased the credit card bill by 60% in the last 5 years and 15% in the last 12 months alone. It’s time the Council took responsibility for the tab it is leaving future generations.”
Click here to download a PDF of the Ratepayers' Briefing.
September 25, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
COUNCIL'S FINANCIALS EVEN WORSE THAN EXPECTED
FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today’s release of Auckland Council’s annual report show that the City is in an even worse financial shape than its critics predicted. The report, adopted by the Council yesterday and released today, show that the Council’s total liabilities have grown by more than a billion dollars, or 15 percent in 12 months.
Jo Holmes, Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson says:
“The fact that the Council is releasing the report on a Friday, the day spin doctors release bad news, speaks volumes about how bad these numbers are.”
“Today’s debt is tomorrow’s higher rates. While the Council will point to their asset base as try to justify the red ink, our analysis shows that even on a per household basis the Council is in a much sorrier state than Kaipara District Council which effectively went bust in 2012.”
“Auckland Council’s budget deficit dwarfs recent deficits in central government. Len Brown’s legacy looks set to be financial disaster."
September 18, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
COUNCIL STAFF BLOWOUT ASTONISHING
FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“No wonder rates are going up,” says Jo Holmes, spokesperson for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance in reaction to today’s news that Auckland Council has had a $63 million blowout in staff costs.
“The Council appears to be trying to soften the public for next week’s release of the annual accounts which are understood to show ballooning operating expenses and debt.”
“The Council should be benchmarking itself to wages in the private sector. Instead, not only is the Council bringing on more people, the wages for existing staff are rising much faster than in the private sector.”
“Cushy job if you can get it. But it's Auckland ratepayers who are picking up Len Brown’s tab.”
September 14, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
RATEPAYERS DON'T NEED A LEN BROWN 'MINISTRY OF INFORMATION'
MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“At 130 staff, Auckland Council has more spin doctors than any Auckland newsroom has journalists. Instead of serving ratepayers, the Council looks set to create a ‘Pravda’ style propaganda outlet.”
“Auckland Council gets bad press because it racks up rates, wastes our money, and has reduced its infrastructure spend, despite the new transport levy. Instead of fixing itself the Council wants to launch a news service to engineer propaganda. Ratepayers will be saying 'no no no’ to the creation of a Soviet style 'Ministry of Information'.”
ENDS
