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Hamilton CEO exposes ratepayers to enormous risk

Hamilton CEO exposes ratepayers to enormous risk over river development

20 MARCH 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hamilton City Council’s decision to tip off two businessmen about a proposed development has exposed ratepayers to enormous risk, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says, “Best practice for these types of proposals is clear: you notify everyone affected or you notify no-one. Picking out one or two property owners and giving them special information gives them the chance to purchase the land and sell it to ratepayers at an inflated price, or to position themselves as the developer and demand a monopoly rate.”

“If the chief executive had notified all the property owners affected by his development, ratepayers could be more confident the Council was acting in a fair and unbiased way. As it stands, this stinks of ‘old boys network’ insider information.”

“At best, Council’s chief executive has exposed ratepayers to the risk of getting screwed in a dodgy deal. Ratepayers will be alarmed with this behaviour.”
ENDS

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