Fat Cats In Wellington Get The Big Regional Development Money

New figures reveal Wellington consultants have been the main winners from the Government's regional development policies, National's Industry and Regional Development spokesperson John Luxton said today.

"We've had a lot of feedback from people around New Zealand pouring scorn on the lack of action on the Government's regional development programme.

"They've got every right to be worried. We've got figures showing while regional New Zealand still waits for action Wellington consultants are pocketing the cash.

"According to the advice from Jim Anderton more than $1.3 million has been poured into consultants pockets in the last three months - just for advice and help on regional development and Industry New Zealand programmes.

"This from the man who promised that "consultants would be eliminated from the public services, and the money would go on "nurses, fire fighters and teachers".

"According to Mr Anderton more than a third of a million dollars has gone on recruiting bureaucrats and human resource consultants since the end of June.

"That includes over $20,000 for consultants to find a boss for Industry New Zealand and another $18,500 for consultants to do the first phase of selecting the Industry NZ directors.

"Then there's the almost $80,000 to develop some brochures - $55,550 to a design company and $23,928 to another consultant. Capiche gets a tidy little pay out of $9,080 for the 'development of cheque and remittance advice forms" .

"Jim Anderton is stumbling with his regional development policies. While ordinary New Zealanders in the regions are struggling with higher prices and the lower dollar, Jim Anderton is lining the pockets of Wellington consultants."

Ends

A printable formatted copy of this press release will be available on http://www.national.org.nz along with an archive of previous releases.

© Scoop Media