Launch of 'Taniwha Tax' Briefing Paper

The Taxpayers’ Union, with support from the Auckland Property Investors’ Association, Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance and Democracy Action today launched a briefing paper on Auckland Council’s new Mana Whenua Cultural Impact Assessment provisions. The paper, entitled The Taniwha Tax: Briefing paper on Auckland Council’s new Mana Whenua rules, is available for free download (hard copies are also available on request).

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says “The Council claims these new provisions cover ‘metaphysical’ issues. That is bureaucratic speak for make-believe."

“The Taniwha Tax is a variable and unpredictable capital tax, collected when someone wants to change their property use."

"Every Auckland homeowner or potential homeowner needs to know how the new provisions affect them."

"Most affected property owners will not become aware of the provisions until they suddenly find there is a site on or near their land, or they are told they may need to get a Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) when applying for resource consent. Worse, the Council isn’t even sure that some of the 3,600 sites deemed ‘of value’ even exist. It didn’t bother to check."

The Briefing Paper quotes extensive criticisms of the provisions made on behalf of some of New Zealand’s largest corporates, including:

• Vodafone
•
• Spark
•
• Chorus
•
• Transpower
•
• Vector
•
• Watercare
•
“If you thought that navigating RMA red tape was hard, these provisions could require you to negotiate with up to nineteen Mana Whenua groups in order to gain development consent,” says Mr Williams.

"The rules mean that resource consents may be subject to expensive modifications, even if the reasons are entirely spiritual in nature."

"The Council has previously tried to dampen public concerns, claiming that not many Cultural Impact Assessments have been required so far. They ignore the cost and delay of applicants having to go to iwi groups to ask whether a CIA is required."

"Most of the messages contained in the Paper are not those of the Taxpayers’ Union. We have deliberately repeated what would otherwise go undiscovered in the files of lawyers, planners and Council insiders. Our work is to shine some democratic light onto what has happened."

"While the Unitary Plan is only 'proposed' these rules are already in effect. We've joined with the other groups in calling for the Council to put a halt to these provisions, at least until the Hearings Panel has had the opportunity to rectify the obvious flaws. Saying ‘we’ll do better next time’ isn’t good enough."

The Paper outlines that even the Archaeological Association has criticised the provisions as being costly, over the top, and not necessarily to protect heritage.

Mr Williams says, "We think that the Archaeological Association's stinging criticisms of Auckland Council are significant. They are blunt about what is in effect a Taniwha Tax. Protecting heritage is important. Protecting the make-believe, while impacting the property values of thousands of Aucklanders, is not.”

"The Auckland Council knows that these provisions will drive up the cost of development and housing but has made no attempt to even calculate the costs and benefits of the scheme."

"The Mana Whena Cultural Impact Assessment rules amount to a Taniwha Tax on Auckland housing and development. They should be scrapped."

Auckland Property Investors’ Association Spokesman, David Whitburn, says:

"We all agree that preserving cultural heritage is important but the provisions are not fit for purpose, disproportional and frustrate the creation of much needed affordable housing stock in Auckland. Mana Whenua groups can stipulate whether Cultural Impact Assessments are necessary as well as their cost and timeframe."

Democracy Action Chairman, Lee Short, says:

“The Council has not verified that these 3,600 sites exist. Our volunteers have been out photographing the sites and so far have identified ’sites of value’ including car parks, back lawns, sports clubs and even the old Greenmount landfill."

Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance Spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says:

“Our organisations have come together to express concerns that the Council has failed to include elementary safeguards to protect owners, the integrity of the planning process, or the public interest in a secular equality before the law."

ENDS

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