Councillor calls for CMPT donation to be returned
December 13th, 2010 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarAuckland Councillor Jami-Lee Ross has stated:
The Mayor of Auckland has been called on by one of his councillors to return a $3,375 campaign donation back to Auckland ratepayers.
The call comes after recent media reports of a donation to Mayor Len Brown from the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust. The charitable trust has been largely funded in the past by Manukau City ratepayers and continues to receive a $385,000 operating grant each year.
Auckland Councillor Jami-Lee Ross has written to Mr Brown saying he has a “moral obligation” to return $3,375 back to ratepayers. “This donation is highly questionable and, in my view, should never have been made. …
Mr Ross says the Trust’s connection to the city’s ratepayers is too close for it to have engaged in actively supporting election campaigns.
“There are very strong arguments that the donation is in effect public money, if not by definition, then by perception. The Trust’s own financial statements note that the Trust is considered a Council Controlled Entity.
“I have no doubt that the ratepayers of Manukau City would not have expected an organisation that has benefited so generously from Manukau City Council to be contributing to the election campaigns of political candidates. …
“Len Brown has a moral obligation to return the $3,375 back to the people that fund the Counties Manukau Pacific Trust. Doing so would be seen as testament to his honesty and integrity,” says Mr Ross.
The multiple links between the trust and the campaign, with an exchange of personnel, a probably illegal donation, and subsequent board appointments need investigating.
Also there is need of a culture change at the new Auckland Council for refusing to make available the donation and expenses return, unless you physically visit them. They won’t even allow journalists to take a photocopy.
This reinforces my view that the Electoral Commission should be placed in charge of all local body elections also. They have a good commitment to transparency.
Related posts:
- Leaker sought in Auckland
- The Counties Manukau Pacific Trust and the Len Brown campaign
- Labour on being a Councillor and an MP
- The billboard probe
December 13th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Ha Ha Ha, Dodgy donations, 6% rate rises…Well played Auckland.
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Can we return Len Brown to south Auckland whilst we’re at it?
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
what a load of bullshit posturing
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
TCrwdb – no thanks. we don’t want him either.
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
One must wonder if the terms ‘Honest’, ‘Transparent’ and ‘Socialists’ are oxymorons. . . DL trained him well!!
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
The use of secret trusts confuses me.
On the one hand some say it means the elected official never knows who has donated, in order to present at least the pretence that they won’t be influenced by such donations.
Equally though, it also means they can not refuse a tainted donation. I would have thought that it was in the interests of a recipient to know who was donating. For example the Breast Cancer Foundation was able to return a donation from Steve Crow because they knew who the donor was.
I also wonder at donations by organisations. An organisation cannot make a decision to do anything. All decisions are made by the owners/managers of that organisation. I’d like to see a rule change that only natural persons on the electoral roll can make political donations because only natural persons can vote.
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
I see the hand of “Mad Mike” Williams behind all this.
Ever the devious bastard who, in his time, oversaw (and in all probability was the architect of) major raiding of the public purse to the benefit of the Labour Party and who has been at a loose end since Phil Goff made one of his few pincipled decisions and supported Andrew Little as his replacement.
His reward of course has been a paid job at one of the CCOs where, no doubt, the groundwork will be laid to continue public funds being used in a way the benefits political ends rather than ratepayers of Auckland.
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
But at least it’s not Banks. Anyone but Banks.
I say, bring back Honest John.
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Both Bank’s and Brown used trusts no doubt to cover a multitude of sins, as a person who is centre left it would appear we are more sinning than sined against. Is it any wonder Labour are looking like dog tucker, if nothing else ( and there is a lot else ) John Key has made it clear screwing the tax payer (rate payer please Mr Hide3 ? ) will not be tolorated.
When Labour lose the next election they might want to give me a call and ask why I voted National. I am right wing Labour, John Key is proposing the sort of policies we should be proposing. Key has stolen ( reclaimed ) the centre ground and the Left is left with nothing other than futile attempts to justify venal MP’s and now a Mayor who I just don’t trust.
Key looks like a Komodo dragon and Goff looks like a Cameleon.
Vote:December 13th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
A thief and a liar go hand in hand, I rest my case!!!!!!!!!!!
Vote:December 14th, 2010 at 12:13 am
I would have thought that only giving the money back would be a very lenient penalty. If not illegal, it should be, and certainly this is a moral affront.
Vote:December 14th, 2010 at 5:05 am
If you Aucklanders are not careful you will be left with Penny Hulse as Mayor after Brown is a/holed out by the Auditor General for Electoral fraud.
Out of the frying pan into the fire perhaps.
Vote:December 14th, 2010 at 6:10 am
None of the usual left suspects prepared to defend the mayor you voted for? Not a single one? Oh dear, Len.
Vote:December 14th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Rates up 5% next year. The super city seems to be delivering thus far.
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