Press Release

ISSUED BY AFFORDABLE AUCKLAND

Auckland Transport’s Big Party

Affordable Auckland’s Stephen Berry has today hit out at Auckland Transport for the One Team party held for employees and their guests at The Cloud on Saturday. “Ratepayers sent a very clear message in the election that they consider the responsible spending of ratepayer money to be a high priority. Auckland Transport certainly isn’t listening when they throw enormous parties like this.”

According to Mr. Berry’s source, one thousand employees of Auckland Transport were invited to the party, as well as partners and children. Entertainment included X Factor winner Jackie Thomas, jugglers, Bollywood dancers, four food trucks and much more. The council controlled organisation also booked The Cloud on the waterfront to hold the event.

“This sort of event is completely inappropriate to be undertaken by a council controlled organisation,” Stephen Berry says. “When a private company holds a party they are doing it with private money and it is their own decision how responsibly they spend it. However when a company is publically owned and funded, they have a responsibility to the ratepayer to be as frugal as possible. By holding this party Auckland Transport has failed miserably in that responsibility.”

Stephen Berry does not have a dollar figure for the party at this time but guesses the cost will easily feature five figures. “I will be making an official information request to find out exactly how much money was wasted by this event and informing the public as soon as I have that information.”

“A conservative guess of 1000 attendees at $20 a head equals $20,000. However each attendee was allowed to take at least one guest with them and I think it would be reasonable to presume that the average consumption per guest exceeded $20, so we are looking at one very expensive party.”

Stephen Berry was the Affordable Auckland candidate for Mayor in the 2013 elections. He finished in third place with 13650 votes. Mr Berry vows to spend the next three years promoting the responsible use of ratepayer dollars and holding all Council personnel accountable for their spending decisions.

ENDS

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