The REGIONAL RATEPAYERS REBELLION

The campaign in support of the Rodney Protest and the Petition demanding
that the Auckland Regional Council reset its rates in accordance with
Section 119 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2003.

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 8 October 2003
Statement by David Thornton

RATES PROTEST PETITIONS TO BE HANDED TO ARC

Two petitions with a combined total of 40,000 signatures will be handed to ARC chairwoman Gwen Bull next Tuesday, 14th October, at 12.45, in the entrance lobby of the ARC Headquarters in Pitt Street.

The first petition, known as the Rodney Protest, was organised by Orewa Ratepayers under chairman John Drury and attracted over 12,000 signatures. The Protest was distributed widely through Rodney District and parts of North Shore.

The second petition was launched by Glenfield Ratepayers under chairman David Thornton, and, on 26th July, was adopted as the basis for the Regional Ratepayers Rebellion campaign and attracted over 27,000 signatures across the Auckland region.

Rebellion campaign organisers are still awaiting figures from the ARC on the total number of Ratepayers who have not paid any rates at all, or are paying by instalments other than by direct debit, or have paid less than the full amount.

On the 23rd September the ARC announced that across the region 19% of ratepayers had not paid - but, despite repeated requests, the ARC has still not produced the figures on which those percentages were based.

On the basis of the 19% figure the Rebellion campaign calculates that 85,400 ratepayers have not paid.

ENDS

Contact, campaign spokesman, DAVID THORNTON [Chairman of the Glenfield Ratepayers] david@Kandu.co.nz

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