Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Comprehensive Victory in Unitary Plan "Taniwha Tax" Campaign

Comprehensive Victory in Unitary Plan "Taniwha Tax" Campaign


JOINT MEDIA RELEASE BY THE NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYERS' UNION AND THE AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS' ALLIANCE

27 JULY 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union and its sister group, the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, are celebrating a comprehensive victory in their “Taniwha Tax” campaign, with the Independent Hearings Panel recommending that Cultural Impact Assessment requirements, and the scheduled “sites of value” be deleted from the Unitary Plan.

In April last year, the groups joined Democracy Action and the Auckland Property Investors Association in launching a briefing paper on the draft plan’s Mana Whenua Cultural Impact Assessment provisions.

“The Taniwha Tax is dead!” says Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams. “Not only has the Independent Panel removed the ridiculous provisions covering ‘metaphysical’ issues – in other words the make-believe – it has completely rejected the Council’s recommendations for even more onerous requirements than those which were in the draft Unitary Plan.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“It’s a win for democracy, for protecting Auckland’s genuine cultural heritage, and for science-based planning.”

Jo Holmes, Spokesperson for the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, says: “This is the most significant win to date for our 16,500 members across Auckland. Our campaign exposed that many of the 3,600 sites deemed of cultural value didn’t even exist and the Council didn’t bother to check.”

“We welcome the Panel’s recommendations, and look forward to the Council's adoption of them,” concludes Ms Holmes.

The relevant recommendations are included in the Panel’s Report to Auckland Council - Hearing topic 009 - Mana Whenua (refer to chapters 6 and 7).

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.