Allegations of secret surveillance absolute rubbish

16 March 2004

Auckland Regional Council Chair Gwen Bull comments on the NZ Herald article headed “Councillors ranked under secret surveillance” published on Tuesday 12 March.

“Last year Councillors and staff attended a series of about 400 meetings of community and interest groups and presented information about our organisation and rates.

A database of reports from both Councillors and staff who attended these meetings was kept as a record of the meetings, the issues raised and actions required.

I am absolutely confident that there was no request for comment on the performance of Councillors at these meetings from any official of the Auckland Regional Council.

I am also aware that there were some attempts at humour in several of the reports. This was inappropriate, apologies have been made and accepted and the staff concerned reprimanded.

Councillor Smith’s claim in the same article that I had stated that all official statements from Council must go through me is also incorrect.

Allegations of organised secret surveillance and marking of performance of Councillors are absolute rubbish and can be described at best as political attention seeking.”

ENDS

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