July 20, 2015
Today we can reveal that as the Council is hiking parking charges by 40 - 50 per cent from next month, Councillors and senior Council staffers are enjoying free carparks courtesy of ratepayers.
From next month it will cost $24 to park all day at the council's three central city buildings at Downtown, the Civic and Victoria Street. Yet documents we have released today show that elected officials and 30 other staff members are entitled to individual car parks worth at least $4,920.
Aucklanders have faced increased rates, the transport levy and now the prospect of a further 50 per cent increase in the cost of parking. When will the Council get off Aucklanders' backs? Even worse - while they are telling everyone else to take the bus or train, Councillors are feathering their own nests with their private parking spaces.
Early-bird parking was abolished last year by Auckland Transport as they claimed it was subsidising commuter traffic into the city centre. Now they have announced that wasn't enough - so want to increase prices by 40 - 50 per cent!
While Aucklanders have to pay top dollar to get parking in Auckland, councillors and thirty council big-wigs have free parking courtesy of ratepayers. This is a clear case of do as I say, not as I do.
July 14, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
RATEPAYERS DEALT THE DAMAGE TOMORROW
TUESDAY 14 JULY 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tomorrow ratepayers will learn how Auckland Council’s rates hikes will impact them, with the Council launching its online rating database at midnight tonight.
Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says “Ratepayers will be going online to discover the financial damage the Len Brown’s budget has brought upon their household.”
“Our experts estimate that between 9,000 and 10,000 households will be facing rates increases of more than $1,000. At a time when inflation is close to zero, rates increases of this magnitude are completely unjustified.”
The Council is spending up to $90,000 on a telemarketing company and mailout to warn people of the rates hike.
"This adds insult to injury," says Ms Holmes. "Instead of calling people to spin the bad news, ratepayers would rather the Council focus at delivering value for money.”
“The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is determined to hold those Councillors who are responsible for these rates hikes accountable."
Since April, more than 11,000 people have joined as supporters of the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance at www.ratepayers.nz.
ENDS
July 09, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
LEN BROWN WILL BE LICKING LIPS RE PROPOSED TREASURY LEVY
THURSDAY 9 JULY 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A proposed Treasury levy requiring Auckland property investors to pay 1 per cent of the capital value of their rental properties to Auckland Council would have the effect of reducing the incentive for infill housing and would likely push up the cost of living for the poorest Aucklanders. Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says:
“Len Brown will be delighted to learn that Wellington bureaucrats are working on ways he can tax Aucklanders more. Meanwhile, our economic experts tell us that this proposed capital charge would likely discourage the very infill housing and development which Auckland Council is encouraging to solve the housing crisis."
“Any new taxes on landlords are likely to simply be passed onto tenants. If high taxes were the solution to Auckland’s housing problems, surely the Council’s 9.9 per cent whack would have solved it.”
“Generally when you tax something you get less of it. Wellington’s thinking that a new housing tax is going to result in more houses is bizarre."
“Among our members are tenants facing rent increases as landlords reluctantly adjust rent in order to pay an increased rates burden. The last thing Aucklanders need is for the cost of living to go up even more.”
ENDS
July 01, 2015
A member has sent this through to highlight what he thinks is the Council spending money unnecessarily.
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Friends of Fowlds Park are a community of people who oppose Auckland Council’s plans to build a 10,000 square metre artificial pitch in Fowlds Park, Mt Albert, as part of Council's plans to build 37 artificial pitches in public parks across Auckland at a cost of more than $2 million per pitch (a total of $74 million).
The reasons we’re opposing the application are listed on our website. Briefly, if Council chose fibre reinforced grass, as it has chosen for for Nixon Park, Kingsland, instead of an artificial surface, it would deliver as many hours of sport but would have none of the adverse effects on the environment particular to artificial pitches. The fibre reinforced grass option would cost only around one third as much to install, a total of only $24 million for 37 fields, a $50 million saving.
We ask for your support by making a submission to Auckland Council’s application by 13th July (click here for details).
We believe it is important that as many individuals and organisations as possible, wherever they are located, make submissions on this important issue which affects the whole of Auckland and all Aucklanders.
Kind regards
Will McKenzie (on behalf of Friends of Fowlds Park)
[email protected]
June 25, 2015
Well it's now official. Len Brown's 'pledge' to cap rates at 2.5% was a joke all along
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is saddened that Aucklanders will be facing an average 9.9% rates increase after passing the Mayor's proposed budget nine votes to ten.
This locks in rate increases ninety-nine times the current rate of inflation. With some suburbs facing rate increases of nearly 20% in a single year. What confidence can Aucklanders have in Len Brown when he promises a 2.5% rates cap and delivers a 9.9% rates hike?
The Ratepayers’ Alliance will be making it its mission to ensure that not a single councillor that voted for today's rates hike will be re-elected next year.
The "Terrible Ten":
- Len Brown
- Arthur Anae
- Bill Cashmore
- Linda Cooper
- Chris Darby
- Alf Filipaina
- Mike Lee
- Calum Penrose
- Wayne Walker
- Penny Webster
Penny Hulse was not at this vote, but has previously indicated support for Len Brown's financial management of the City.
June 22, 2015
Today the New Zealand Herald reported that the five councillors listed below would be abstaining from voting on Len Brown's budget, which includes the proposed 9.9% rates increase.
These councillors know that Aucklanders are already facing high rates bills and do not want to have them go even higher.
They have the opportunity to vote against the Mayor's proposal and ensure that a new, more affordable, plan is agreed to.
We encourage our supporters to email these representatives and urge them to vote against the Len Brown's high spend, low value budget.
June 01, 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
GREEN MAN CAMPAIGN CREEPY, PATRONISING AND EXPENSIVE
WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is backing the comments of Auckland Transport Blog editor, Matt Lowrie, that Auckland Transport’s “Green Man” campaign is both stupid and creepy, Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says:
“If Auckland Transport want to do good, they should focus on providing better quality, safer roads rather than gimmicky campaigns paying people to dress up in a morph suit and hold peoples hand as they cross the road.”
“Auckland Transport says the social cost of motor vehicle injury justifies this campaign. They seem to have forgotten that they are an agency tasked with overseeing Auckland’s transport infrastructure, not social issues.”
“This is nothing short of a gimmick campaign doing a poor job of trying to replicate the work of central government agencies.”
ENDS
May 11, 2015
Last night we went public on Auckland Council's plans to spend up to $10 million on a new Council chamber so that the Mayor and Councillors don't have to walk the 400 metres to the existing chamber in the Auckland Town Hall. The confidential briefing, provided to the Ratepayers’ Alliance and given to One News, was requested by councillors who asked officials for "options to improve councillor and public experience" and move the chamber into the Council’s new office tower at 135 Albert Street.
As a result of our shinning the light on what the Council was doing behind closed doors, the Council has backed down with One News today unable to find a single Councillor willing to support the proposal they had asked for!
The One News coverage of our release of the secret briefing made to Councillors is here. We also uploaded the full presentation to here.
Today Mayor Len Brown fronted (unlike yesterday) but surprisingly blamed his CEO - even though it was pointed out to him that the presentation makes clear that this was an initiative the Councillors had requested…
For an organisation less than a month old, we are proud that our efforts have already forced a Council back down that will save ratepayers millions. Our work isn’t costless though – if you can chip in, donate now to help us keep the Super City honest.
May 10, 2015
Late on Friday we were leaked a secret presentation made to Auckland Councillors in December which reveals that the Councillors are considering spending millions of ratepayer money to build a new council chamber so councillors and officials do not have to walk the 400 metres to the former Auckland Town Hall.
We've spoken to a property developer who has provided us with a 'back of the napkin' estimate that the cost to ratepayers could be between $4.5 and $10 million dollars, depending on the option chosen.
The confidential briefing was requested by councillors who asked officials for "options to improve councillor and public experience" and move the chamber into the Council’s new office tower at 135 Albert Street.
Len Brown promised to cap rates at 2.5%, last week delivered 9.9%, and now we find out councillors want to waste millions on meeting rooms to save them from a 400 metre walk.
This Council act like they have more money than sense. The Auckland town hall is a beautiful building and there is nothing wrong with the existing space. Spending should be on public works, not vanity projects.
We’re calling on the Council to live within its means and get back to basics. Ratepayers of Auckland are sick of paying for the Council's luxuries while it tells the public that there is no money left for core infrastructure.
Key facts:
- Council currently use the ‘reception lounge' on level 2 of the Auckland town hall for full council meetings
- Councillors asked officials to provide options for a new council chamber in its office tower at 135 Albert Street
- 135 Albert Street was purchased by the Council for $104 million in 2012
- The existing Town Hall would remain in Council ownership and retained for ceremonial space
- The Council has refused to provide its estimate of the costs. The Ratepayers Alliance has been advised by a property developer that the costs could be between $4.5 and $10 million depending on the design options chosen
Update: One News on council chambers
One News tonight covered the Council's plans to build a new chamber just half a kilometre from where the old one is.
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A copy of the presentation is embedded below.
May 07, 2015
When running for Mayor in 2013, Len Brown promised not to increase average rates more than 2.5%.
In November 2014 he stretched his credibility and voted for a 3.5% average rates.
Today he well and truly shattered his promise to Aucklanders.
We now face an average household rates increase of 9.9%.
Len Brown, along with deputy mayor Penny Hulse, Penny Webster, Arthur Anae, Cathy Casey, Bill Cashmore, Linda Cooper, Chris Darby, Alf Filipaina, Chris Fletcher, Mike Lee, Calum Penrose, Wayne Walker and Maori Statutory Board members David Taipari and Glen Wilcox voted for this increase.
The details of the tax plan show that it is the poorest and most vulnerable that will be hit the hardest. These are the very people Len Brown relied upon to elect him to office.
Reports detail that Otara and Papatoetoe will see rates increases of 16.9%, with similar increases for Beach Haven and Glenfield.
While some people will be able to reluctantly absorb the rates increases, others will find it a struggle to make ends meet.
Young families and elderly people who rely on their pensions, may find themselves having to cut back on the essentials in order to meet this increase.
We have launched a petition to remind Len Brown how his broken promises will cost Aucklanders. We encourage you to sign and share.
