FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY 26/6/09

Niikki Kaye To Present C4fff Accountability Petition To Parliament

This Monday 29 June, Campaign for Fare Ferry Fares (C4FFF) will be presenting Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye with a petition signed by more than 500 people, calling for accountability on the Matiatia to Auckland ferry route that is currently operated by Fullers (Souter Holdings).

Nikki Kaye will be meeting with C4FFF on Monday and has agreed to present the petition to parliament on behalf of her constituents, as part of the discussion on the Public Transport Management Act.

The petition, now signed by more 500 people, calls for a mechanism of accountability so that fares cannot be raised without consultation with the governing transport authority, and for regulation or fair competition on the Matiatia to Auckland route.

C4FFF spokesperson Dr Cathy Urquhart says with the review of the Transport Management Act looming this is a key moment to request regulation or accountability of some kind before more residents are forced to leave the island.

‘Our long term future is at stake each time diesel goes up. Our economy is deeply affected by who can afford to commute and live here, and who can afford to visit. Should the future of our ferry link to the CBD be in the hands of an unaccountable monopoly? No! Let’s get some accountability into the equation, before our Waiheke community loses the diversity we treasure so much.’

C4FFF members will also travel in person to Wellington to talk to members of the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee when the Public Transport Management Act goes under discussion later this year – presenting the petition on behalf of the signatories gives them this opportunity to speak.

People who would like to download the C4FFpetition can visit http://fullerswatch.blogspot.com/ or you can sign in person at the library, the Ostend Markets this Saturday or at Get Stuffed Café in Ostend, before Monday 29 June.

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