News Release Auckland City Residents And Ratepayers

NEWS RELEASE AUCKLAND CITY RESIDENTS AND RATEPAYERS 7.11.2003

“At long last Auckland Regional Council’s chief executives have been told to clean up their transparency act by the Auditor-General. Local authorities and central government secret wheeling-and-dealings are now to be placed on the public table for open scrutiny. At this point we salute those who have fought to retrieve a basic democratic right.”

Elaine West, chair of Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers was commenting on the Auditor-General’s report scolding ARC’s executive officers over poor passenger rail management and services, and for cloaking important information from public view.

Elaine West believes that the Auditor-General’s report wears an ambivalent hat.

She says, “On one hand, we can feel optimistic that such a watershed decision recognises the public’s right to scrutinise documents and assess best outcomes.

And on the other more negative hand, can we trust ARC’s CEO’s to perform their proper duties transparently as indicated by the Auditor General? I think their past actions haven’t left much room for such blind faith.

All in all, we congratulate Mr Hawkins who dispatched irate rail-commuter’s questions for investigation to the Auditor-General office.”

On another ARC matter, ratepayers are complaining to Auckland City Residents and Ratepayers about experiencing problems with ARC’s rates payment system.

For instance, ratepayer’s cheque payments may not be recorded (part payments or full payments), cash instalments paid at the Post Office seem lost, and payments posted to the ARC are not receipted – often resulting in a second or third notice for payment with penalties imposed. Ratepayers need to protect their rates payments by keeping records or receipts of payment made.

If ratepayers across the Auckland region are experiencing ARC unresolved rates problems they can contact Elaine West on 09 360 2771 or aucklandcity_elainewest@yahoo.co.nz or Grant Morgan (Residents Action Movement) on 09 634 4432 or gcm@actrix.gen.nz

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