AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASE

8 November 2006

Auckland City increases support of Citizens Advice Bureaux

Auckland City increased its ongoing support of Auckland’s Citizens Advice Bureaux by recently approving an additional $130,000 in funding, bringing the total annual grant to $642,162 for 2006/2007.

The Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) provides a free high-quality information advisory advocacy and support service to Auckland city’s increasingly diverse community. Thirteen branches are established across Auckland city, offering 42 languages, a dedicated Mandarin line and separate International Student Service Centre. The first Auckland city branch opened in Ponsonby in 1970.

CAB is a voluntary organisation providing free, confidential information and advice to anyone about any query or problem. In the 2006 financial year, CAB received 149,699 enquiries, an increase of 60 per cent since 1999.

“There is considerable growth in the number and complexity of enquiries to Citizens Advice Bureaux. Auckland City is committed to enhancing the city’s cultural diversity and building strong local communities by this accessible and well used information and advice service,” says Councillor Cathy Casey, chairperson of the Community Development and Equity Committee.

Staff at CAB are trained volunteers who can access information by computer or from the extensive range of resources held by each branch.

The funding increase will come from Auckland City’s Community Planning diversity fund, reflecting CAB’s significant contribution to supporting diversity in Auckland city.

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