RATEPAYERS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO STOP WAYNE BROWN'S RATES BLOWOUT - RELEASE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET

The Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance has today launched StopWayne.nz, a new submission tool for ratepayers to push back against Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed rates blowout.

Jordan Williams, spokesman for the Ratepayers’ Alliance said:

“Wayne Brown promised to cut spending and get rates under control. Instead, he is proposing the biggest rates hike in the Super City's history.

“This is the same Mayor whose office spent 608 times more on consultants than his predecessor. The same Mayor on whose watch administrative overheads have blown out by 30 percent.

“Brown is hiding behind the City Rail Link to try and justify the rates blowout. Aucklanders see right through it. 

The Ratepayers’ Alliance has also published an Alternative Budget to Brown which controls expenditure and caps the average residential rates rise to three percent.

“Auckland Council spends $869.4 million a year on backroom functions and non-core activities. That is $1,423 per household. Brown was elected to get that under control.

“There is plenty of fat for Wayne Brown to cut. We’ve shown how it can be done without impacting on core services or infrastructure. He has no excuse.”

Individual submissions can be made at StopWayne.nz. The Alternative Budget for Auckland Council is available at ratepayers.nz/alternative_budget_2026.