Media release
1 March 2013

Solid Six Months For Council Group

Auckland Council Group has announced a total after-tax surplus of $478 million in the final six months of the 2012/2013 financial year, with an underlying $62 million net operating surplus for the period.

Australasia’s largest local body also reported the value of its net assets had increased by $455 million.

These details are outlined in the Group’s half-year results reported to the NZX today.

Auckland Council Chief Finance Officer, Andrew McKenzie, says the results reflect the Group’s focus on delivering savings and efficiencies and continuing to find opportunities to transform the organisation, so it can deliver the benefits of amalgamation.

“These results represent a solid six months for the group as we deliver on the vision to create the world’s most liveable city in an affordable way.”

People are already experiencing many of those benefits; in the six months to the end of 2012, many major regional and local projects were completed or kicked off.

These include:

• First year of the new single rating system implemented
• The HOP integrated ticketing system on trains and ferries introduced
• Auckland was named in the top 10 rankings of all three major international quality of life surveys
• A revitalised Hurstmere Green in Takapuna was reopened
• Construction began on new library in Wellsford
• Redevelopment of the Lopdell House precinct in Titirangi started
• Refurbishment of the Massey Park Aquatic Centre got underway
• Customer services received 1,255,434 calls
• Solid waste and dog management bylaws adopted
• City Centre Masterplan, the Waterfront Plan and the Economic Development Strategy launched.
• Work began on transforming Shed 10 on Queen’s Wharf
• Auckland named second in 2012 International Sports City Awards.

A final copy of half-year report will be available on council’s website by the end of March.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>