MEDIA RELEASE:

Blakeley Drinking Too Much CIA Kool-Aid

26 MARCH 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union says that today’s comments by Auckland’s Chief Planning Officer, Dr Roger Blakeley, suggest that he is aloof to Auckland ratepayers' strong objection to the Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) requirements in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. Jordan Williams, Executive Director of theTaxpayers’ Union, says:

“We’ve received more complaints from our Auckland members about these Cultural Impact Assessments than on any other issue. Forcing property owners to pay thousands to iwi groups to write reports on spirituality, culture and even taniwhas, is what Auckland Council is now requiring."

“Dr Blakeley likes to talk about good quality planning, but he pushed for the designation of thousands of ‘sites of value’ and ‘significance’ without having had his staff check whether the sites even exist."

"It’s not at all surprising that we are now getting reports of people quietly paying-off iwi groups so that a CIA, and the associated delay, can be avoided."

"The CIA requirements make a complete mockery of planning law and due process."

ENDS

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