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Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown needs to sit down unelected members rather than have them hold sway over rates rises, the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance suggests.
“When councillors vote on Wayne Brown’s record-breaking rates increase next week, Aucklanders deserve to know the outcome is being decided by elected representatives – not unelected appointees,” the Alliance’s Josh Van Veen says.
“We understand that 11 councillors are prepared to vote down the increase, but the two unelected Independent Māori Statutory Board members on the Budget Committee give Wayne Brown the numbers he needs.”
The mayor need not rely on such board members if he is confident the budget deserves to pass, Van Veen contends.
“No other major city in New Zealand allows unelected members to decide how much ratepayers should be forced to pay.
“Using unelected members is undemocratic and a middle finger to the majority of elected members tasked to govern our Super City.
“[Brown] should let elected councillors decide the issue on its merits instead of putting his thumb on the scales.”
