Auckland Ratepayers' Money Shouldn't Be Bob Harvey's Secret

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling out Auckland Council for its secretive approach to ratepayer money after it shot down the Alliance’s enquiries regarding the remuneration of Sir Bob Harvey in his new role as ‘Champion for Auckland – overseas investment’. After Friday’s announcement the Ratepayers’ Alliance asked whether and how much Sir Bob was to be paid for the role. A spokesperson for the Mayor's office emailed back that evening with "Bob’s pay is personal information which Auckland Council won’t be releasing."*

Ratepayers’ Alliance Spokesperson Jo Holmes says, “The Council may have 130 spin doctors, but clearly their role isn’t ensuring the Council is being transparent. The pay of elected officials and senior bureaucrats is usually public information."

“At face value this is a dream job for Sir Bob. Auckland ratepayers pay for him to travel the world apparently to do what MFAT and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise do already. Like Len Brown’s man in London, this is another example of Auckland Council creeping into roles traditionally left to central government."

"Councillors have said they have been given no information or decision making about this appointment. It is beginning to look more like a job for the boys orchestrated from the Mayor’s office than prudent spending."

The Ratepayers’ Alliance was established in April to shine the light on Council spending and fight for lower rates and better value for money from the Super City.

* The correspondence is available to media on request.

ENDS

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