MEDIA RELEASE

LGNZ Prefer Spin Over Substance

11 JUNE 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reacting to the report and comments released by Local Government New Zealand this afternoon, Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union says:

“We are frankly staggered that LGNZ have waited until today to release this report on the financial health of the local government sector. We approached them months ago to assist in our efforts of ensuring New Zealand ratepayers had meaningful and accurate data to compare the performance of councils. Instead of assisting, they’ve commissioned a report that is a puff piece, and resisted our efforts to provide transparency."

“How can LGNZ claim that council finances are healthy when Auckland Council owes $15,858 for every ratepayer? That amount alone is staggering, and that's before any of the promised big infrastructure projects have been paid for.”

“LGNZ need to stop spinning to protect councils and start working for the ratepayers that fund them."

The Grant Thornton report was earlier released on the Taxpayers’ Union website, after it was leaked to the Union by a local government insider. “Had the report not been leaked, we wonder whether it would ever have seen the light of day."

Ratepayers’ Report, the data of which was prepared by the Taxpayers' Union, launched this morning at stuff.co.nz and ratepayersreport.co.nz.

ENDS

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