21 MARCH 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Auckland Council has turned topsy-turvy with its vote to approve a $63 million bailout for Eden Park, including a $10 million no-strings-attached grant, says the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson Jo Holmes says, “Councillors that tend towards conservative spending, such as Greg Sayers and Daniel Newman, approved the bailout, leaving lefties like the Mayor and Cathy to take a rare stand on behalf of ratepayers. It seems even the fiscal conservatives on the Council have a weak spot when it comes to rugby, and ratepayers will now pay for it.”

“Councillors should have taken a tougher line, demanding that the Trust either cover costs or sell up. In return, Councillors could have worked to remove red tape and let Eden Park host more events.”

“The most outrageous justification for the grant was that the trust board chair had advised against the approach of a repayable loan. Of course the board would argue for free money! And now that they’ve been given it, they’ll come back to ratepayers begging for more next time they run into financial trouble.”

ENDS

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