The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Hastings District Council for purchasing a building for $1 million only to sell it for $150,000 just two years later.

Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:

“This appears to be yet another case of a council not doing its due diligence before forking out ratepayer money to pay for the latest boondoggle.

“Either the council significantly overpaid for a derelict building or they effectively gave a $1 million handout to a property developer while local ratepayers stare down the barrel of a 19% rates hike. Either way it reeks of bureaucratic incompetence.

“Ratepayers deserve an explanation as to how this was able to occur. Instead the Council has used a confidentiality clause to shield themselves from embarrassment rather than risking taking some accountability for their poor decision making.”

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