1 March 2016

Support for inquiry into $40 million Dam decision

Labour supports a call for the Auditor-General to investigate the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s $40 million commitment to the Ruataniwha dam by four of its own councillors, Labour’s MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti Meka Whaitiri says.

“The Council’s ‘provisional decision’ to commit so much ratepayers money without any public consultation, is a very serious matter.

“Despite a litany of questionable decisions over Ruataniwha, we have seen no leadership from the National Government.

“Tukituki MP Craig Foss actually called the commitment of ratepayer funds a ‘positive step forward’ and continues to support the project.

“The Minister for Local Government, who has a critical leadership role to ensure good outcomes are achieved for communities, has kept silent.

“I believe the Auditor General is best placed to shed some light on how the Council is spending the public purse.

“Hawke’s Bay ratepayers deserve transparency on how decisions to spend $40 million of their money are being made,” says Meka Whaitiri.

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