Party Party Party at Auckland Ratepayers’ Expense

A case of ‘party party party’ or celebration overkill at the ratepayers’ expense is continuing unabated at Auckland City Council.

At yesterday’s Finance and Strategy Committee, City Vision and Labour Councillors discovered that two separate ratepayer-funded celebrations at Eden Park of “one year out’ from the Rugby World Cup are occurring on 9 and 11 September in addition to the civic unveiling of the $122,000 Rugby World Cup clock on September 11.

Councillor Glenda Fryer said “Councillor Moyle has persuaded his Citizens and Ratepayers colleagues (C&R) to spend $23,000 to have yet another celebration at Eden Park on 11 September. A regional celebration at Eden Park with all the councils of the region present has already been planned for 9 September. To my mind this last minute spend-up appears to be a case of one-upmanship so that C&R can bask separately in the glory of the new stadium, rather than celebrate together with the regional dignitaries who come to the same venue for a similar event two days previously.”

Councillor Richard Northey said “Ratepayers have the right to ask whether three parties over two days are really necessary and whether the C&R team is being good stewards of ratepayer money.”

Councillor Cathy Casey said “This Council has already set aside $34 million for a “world class” spend-up on Rugby World Cup. Why can’t they forego a few bottles of wine from the $320,000 ‘hospitality’ budget for visiting VIPs and pay for it from that? What irks me more is that this $23,000 additional expenditure is funding an event that still has a $5 door charge. Why do Auckland families have to pay to view the new Eden Park stand? "

ENDS

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