$19,000 for cultural advice is tokenism at its worst

20 APRIL 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local councils need to stop wasting money on expensive ‘cultural advice’, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “Christchurch City Council spending nearly $19,000 on cultural advice for a sport centre name translation is expensive tokenism at its very worst.”

“The most disturbing aspect of this story is the idea that the groups that make the rules are the ones profiting from them. In this case, it’s the local iwi pressuring the council to seek expensive advice, then being the very organisation that is paid to provide this advice. It’s a pretty sweet business model when you can use the law to guarantee your profits.”

“This spending is especially when Christchurch ratepayers face a rate hike averaging five and a half percent. The Council needs to cut costs. Cutting over-the-top consultation processes are good place to start.”

“This is just the latest in long line of rebrand blowouts. Stratford District Council spent $65,000 changing their logo. The Ministry of Children rebranded for over $400,000, and then back again. Auckland’s tourism agency spent $500,000 on a new slogan!”

“Ngai Tahu need to front up. How can its trust justify this cost on ratepayers for what is objectively a two-word translation? It’s a total rort.”

ENDS

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