City Vision is backing More for You, Better for Climate, the group formed to contest the upcoming election of Entrust trustees, as the best opportunity to break the C&R stranglehold over Entrust and Vector. More for You, Better for Climate’s policies align with City Vision and the fresh, talented candidates have City Vision's full confidence in getting better results for Aucklanders.

C&R has been able to retain control of the trust by relying on low voter turnout, limited debate on the issues around the election, and paying out the Entrust dividend just before voting opens. The Parliamentary Justice Committee inquiry into the Entrust Election found that, “payouts made just prior to an energy trust election could be seen as influencing voters in favour of the existing board” *

“C&R have been able to dictate the terms of the election through the trust deed,” says City Vision’s chair Robert Gallagher. “They’ve restricted the voting period to only two weeks and have previously limited the electoral officer’s ability to publicise the election.”

“City Vision has directly contested the election for over 20 years but we are acutely aware of how difficult it is to break through against incumbents who use their position to hinder the democratic process."

“Earlier this year City Vision decided it would not stand candidates for the Entrust election and so is pleased that More for You, Better for Climate has stepped up with an innovative and forward-looking programme for Entrust and Vector. More for You, Better for Climate has the strongest chance of challenging the status quo to put in place policies that matter to Aucklanders.

We want to see a sustainable increase in Vector’s dividend, a reduction in energy poverty and Auckland better prepared for climate change. These are issues that C&R has failed to address despite their control of Entrust over the last 18 years. It is definitely time for a change, for C&R’s control of Entrust to be broken, and for the real opportunities available for Entrust and Vector to be put in place.”

“City Vision is right behind More for You, Better for Climate. We encourage all eligible voters to look at what More for You, Better for Climate is offering and make sure you vote,” Mr Gallagher said.

© Scoop Media