All aboard to Queenstown
July 14th, 2012 at 9:52 am by David FarrarThe Herald reports:
One mayor, one city – but 36 delegates from the Auckland Council will be at the Local Government NZ conference in Queenstown, costing ratepayers more than $93,000.
Six councillors, 22 local board members, three Maori Statutory Board members and five council staff fly to Queenstown tomorrow for the two-day conference.
They will stay in the “spellbinding luxury” of the Millennium and Copthorne Resort Lakefront hotels.
36 delegates? Really.
The cost per delegate is $2600, including registration, flights and accommodation. Taxis, meals and other expenses are to be added.
That’s a fair bit for a two day conference. I’m sure it would have been cheaper in Palmerston North.
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July 14th, 2012 at 9:58 am
This is not the only conference councillors go to. There is some little known organization called ‘Traffic Institute’ which has annual conferences attended by councillors. Far as I can see it is a relic of the days when councils hired their own traffic cops.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 10:13 am
Pity the poor stressed out council workers who have been working all hours since this fiasco started..I know one who has just resigned because of stress, but the councillors are still enjoying Lake Wakatipu and Rodney is painting the house, playing with bubs and writing forth form level articles for any papers who’ll pay him. I am going to Ak later in the year..I hate to think . Last time I thought it was a dirty disgusting dump . The beautiful city of thirty ,forty years ago with its smart , attractive occupants is now but a distant memory.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Auckland has a third of the population on NZ.
Is this 36 more or less than a third of the attendees at the conference? I’d say it likely to be less than a third, therefore no problem.
$2,600 isn’t that expensive. Don’t know the cost of this rego, but i’m picking it’s at least $1k, $500 for flights, $300 a night for a hotel.
It’s not excessive, nothing to see here.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 10:17 am
No big deal.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 10:28 am
Councils do NOT pay.
Vote:Like Governments, they have no money of their own. They only have MY (and your) money. We, the ratepayers(taxpayers), bear the cost and they spend our money on a conference without specific authorisation. Of course, to make it legal, the appropriation is buried in some esoteric 10 year plan.
As for the conference per se – this year it nothing more or less than a “how can we hold the powers we craved for and got in 2002 (thanks to a stupid Labour administration) ” talkfest.
It would be a good idea if the bill currently before Parliament were to also abolish the LGA. There is the small issue of freedom of association. But heh, we can abolish other things so why not that?
July 14th, 2012 at 10:29 am
and if anyone thinks that these hotels offer, “spellbinding luxury”, then they really need to travel some more.
They are run of the mill business class hotels, nothing more.
Wider question is, do we really want our public sector to be staffed by second rate people ? The media would appear to do so.
The public sector is 40% of our nation (yeah, it’s too much but it’s there), if we expect it to be well run, then it needs serious intellectual horse power from those managing it. That means giving them comparable wages and conditions to what they could expecting managing in similar sized organisations in the private sector.
Making them a political football and giving them a kicking everytime they spend a dollar does the country no favours.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 10:36 am
The LGNZ Conference is not some piss trip – it’s an annual conference that Local Government professionals and representatives attend to learn how to be more effective as Local Government. This year it is in Queenstown, but it gets shifted around from centre to centre.
The true measure is not the $93,000 plus expenses that the conference is costing, but if the attendees can not deliver at least that amount in benefits to the Auckland Council.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 10:38 am
@flipper
Yes, of course it’s all Labour’s fault. Who knew Rodney Hide was really a Labour Man in drag?
National are no friends of local democracy. Just last week I received a softening up letter from Kate Wilkinson saying “greater Christchurch, which includes Waimakariri, Selwyn and Christchurch”. Now Wilkinson may be slightly confused as her electorate takes in part of Christchurch along with Waimakariri, but it sure doesn’t extend out here to Selwyn!
How long before the ECANcoup is extended to elimintae local represenation in Selwyn and Waimak?
I am far happier seeing my rates used for local body councillors and staff to exchange ideas, build relationships and expand thier knowledge than I am to see my taxes pissed away propping up the thugees of the Afghan Kleptocracy.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:23 am
What a junket! Nothing can be done to stop it, other than exposing it for the rort it is.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:26 am
Disgrace.
Vote:I am dumbfounded that there seems to be no party capable of stopping these rorts, nor many voters demanding such a party (quite the reverse, have a goal of saving money and voters dislike you, aided and abetted by the left wing MSM).
July 14th, 2012 at 11:26 am
The local board members are a waste of money. One Maori council member, two staff, and 6 council members is about right. That makes 9
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:35 am
Perks , all jobs have them.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:44 am
wreck1080
Yes when I worked in a Kiwifruit packhouse 10 hour shift we had three free tea and a bun each time, or pay for a pie – great perk.
15 minutes each – at $7 per hour at the time. Understand only change, minimum rate.
I am glad I am no longer an Auckland Ratepayer – but the electorate chose the loopy, spend other people’s money, Mayor and Councillors, so suck it up.,
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:46 am
Does it matter what we want, when we already do?
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Same troughing – different week. No real surprise.
What they should do is make attendee’s pay 50% of the cost.
Then you would really know if it was worth it or not by the numbers choosing to attend.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 11:57 am
Surely the time has come to stopping paying any salaries or perks for the privilege of representing ratepayers and taxpayers. Let public office be reserved only for those prepared to put their own resources into the role.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
I have no problem with conferences but this one is mainly a junket. Just look at the location, the dinners and the speakers!
What can Graham Henry say that will be of any possible benefit to running the city better or to the ratepayers? These are ‘celebrity’ speakers to entertain self-important mayors and councillors who feel they are entitled to a junket on our dollar.
If local body politicians want to get together they should pay for themselves or run a social meeting at home on a weekend.
Vote:Otherwise they should be funded for practical workshops only.
July 14th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
To those justifying this abuse of public funds;
local govt is about poo and pavements and providing those services within the means of the rates:how simple can that be?
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@mikenmild “Let public office be reserved only for those prepared to put their own resources into the role.”
Yes, great idea, let’s have no one on a council unless they can match John Key’s bank balance. That way leads to the travesty of democracy that is the US, where even 90% of the 1% cannot afford to run for office.
If you don’t like what your council does with your rates, get involved, campaign, vote, get elected. Anything would be better than your whining.
@kowtow “local govt is about poo and pavements…”
Thank you, Rodney Hide.
However, by their votes, people have decided they want more form their councils. They also want parks, libraries, art galleries, dog control, etc.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Sorry Luke, couldn’t help myself. This is such small beer that I can hardly believe the despised MSM picked it up; let alone DPF worrying about it. The Auckland Council’s budget is about $1.5 billion, so is $100K on a conference is the thing to focus on?
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
True, mike. The amount could be a trifle, but it’s the principle, that unknown thing to leftists like yourself, that matters.
Ratepayers money should be spend wisely, not on junkets for all and sundry.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Fair enough Mike, don’t know you so thought you were simply jumping on the band wagon.
The real and stupid costs of this will come from pathological bloggers misusing LGOIMA Requests to scrutinise every receipt simply to feed their own whale sized egos.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Manolo
Vote:I actually agree – councils should be spending money wisely (if only all elected representatives were wise, alas), but I’m not convinced that the LGNZ conference is a compete waste of money.
July 14th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
luke
you’ve hit on something there when you talk about the voters……
what’s happening all across the now bankrupted west is voters,voting themselves goods and services that are being paid for ,largely by other people, and politicians who cravenly chase that vote and refuse to balance the books.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Rubbish, kowtow. Total, unadulterated rubbish.
So the voters voted for the LIBOR lies?
The voters destroyed Lehman Bros?
It was the voters who gave Nick Leeming free reign?
Drop the blinkers from your eyes and see the truth of the economic collapse. Bankers.
A few thousand on a conference will not break the NZ economy, Key’s
Vote:panderingkowtowing to the US bankers has a far greater ill effect.July 14th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Sorry luke, the bankers are just one part of the malaise.
Bankers deal in debt that’s what they do. Politicians however are meant to represent the best interests of their electorate.They can do thatby prudent use of public monies.
Manage your own house ,stay out of debt and then you can larf at those evil bankers.
Me, I blame pollies who refuse to live within their means,both local and national.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Its a fucking outrage that that many people from Auckland are going to this.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Could be worse – they could have been paid to attend the fat conference.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
On the LIBOR lies.
Regardless of the so-called scandal. Movement in LIBOR rates is 95%+ correlated with the cash rate set by the central bank.
Vote:So what is the real manipulation, – the rates set by central banks, which by definition is manipulation.
July 14th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
If it’s meant to improve performance, then by all accounts it woud need to be about a six month course for the Auckland attendees.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
How many of the attendees will be taking their wives?
Ah, the hypocrisy of the self righteous knows no bounds.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
As some one else said, why this venue? Queenstown is really , really expensive for everything..They could have gone to Hamilton , Whangarei , Taupo……they could have stayed home and skyped.
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
could have gone to Hamilton???
Vote:July 14th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Well yes Mickey..they could have caught the bus there and taken their sammies…
Vote:I read on the oily rag web site that half of NZ’s population thinks they do not have enough money to live on or just have have enough money to live on ; so frugality is not a choice for half the countries people..so any sign of excess is an insult to all of these people..
I can’t help but note that Hyde no longer lives in AK..how jolly ..The tomb raiders of the 80s don’t live in NZ..They are in Sydney , the South of France or London..they all must be don’t look back kind of guys…Oh the charm of the conscienceless lad.
July 14th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
I went to this a couple of years ago in Wellington. Never again. Just a massive talkfest. Mind you, if the Akld Council saved $93k by not sending anyone here it would have no effect on rates. So there’s no issue there.
Vote:July 15th, 2012 at 10:24 am
The Maori fellas are probably being sent down because there is nothing for them to do in Auckland. This seems to be Len’s version of Parliaments ‘Speakers Tour’ a great pissaup weekend on the ratepayer. The intention of amalgamating Aucklands councils to consolidate expenditure seems to be a lost cause. I suspect the new Auckland Council is sending as many delegates as the sum total of the former divisional authorities.
Vote:July 15th, 2012 at 10:35 am
Backster,
Vote:I think it was always a lost cause..a sop to the simple minded..in other words a deliberate con. There were other reasons for the merger which may or may not emerge at some stage…sad..
July 15th, 2012 at 11:55 am
I have been to several of these and they achieve little more than councillors’ wives buying new wardrobes for the occasion and a lot of phot air. There are ample opportunities like mayoral forums where they can discuss important matters.
Vote:I don’t care what this costs. It is a waste of money and a symbol of outdated attitudes to public money.
July 15th, 2012 at 11:56 am
joana
Vote:Do tell us the hidden agenda!
July 16th, 2012 at 9:44 am
I have no trouble with a well structured conference and in a good location even better. I fail to see why 35people need attend paid for by my rates. 6 councillors, 22 community board people and three maori Board members, why.
Why not 2 councillors, I Maori Board member and 3 community board people + the 5 officials.
36 is a jolly.
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Beab
Vote:Do your own reading and research..The fact that both Labour and National are globalists should give you a small clue..mean aren’t I? Well only sometimes.
July 16th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I note that somebody here has said that it is an outrage that Aucklanders are attending this event. While I agree that any conference not paid for by those attending should be held in Palmerston North it is worth remembering that if it were not for Aucklanders then Queenstown would be nothing more than another hick south island town.
Frankly every Aucklander who visits Queenstown should be welcomed with open arms, we should also have our backsides kissed as without us they would all remain slightly retarded (and broke) South Islanders.
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
There are certainly a lot of Auckland-style yuppie wankers in Queenstown, if that’s what you’re saying BB?
NEGATIVE on the “they would be broke without Auckland” thing though… I think you’ll find millions of paying tourists pass thru Dorkland international Airport in order to get to Queenstown, not the other way around…
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Thank goodness the Minister of Local Government, Rodney Hide, stepped in and reformed the bloated and wasteful local governance of Auckland from what it used to be, eh? Where would we be without our Rodney?
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
For once, it’s impossible to disagree with RRM!
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
RRM
Of course the tourists arrive in Auckland, can you imagine the shame we would all feel if they arrived anywhere else in NZ?
They stay up here for a few days before visiting the provinces, they prefer it that way so that at least they can enjoy a little bit of class before heading down to the rural areas.
Let’s face it, Queenstown was invented to give us Aucklanders something to do in the South Island, I can think of no other reason why the hell anybody would ever visit the South Island apart from Queenstown
And while you moan about us RRM we all know that the rest of NZ is just jealous. Deep down you all want to live here and you all want to be as good as we are at everything that matters.
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
I can think of no other reason why the hell anybody would ever visit the South Island apart from Queenstown
There’s quite a few places I’d recommend in the South Island over Queenstown – and over Auckland. But I guess it depends on what interests you. If you like to get away from crowds avoid Auckland and Queenstown.
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Pete
Oh please do tell.
Vote:July 16th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
BB – I left Auckland in 2006 after living there for 5 years.
I was back in February for a wedding and that merely reinforced that my decision to get the hell out was the correct one. Great climate, and the CMJ is better than it used to be, and the western Motorway past the airport is much better than it used to be. But it’s still a shit hole full of fuckwits and I was pleased to get out of there again.
I do miss the asian cuisine (and beaver) in Auckland. But not enough to go back there…
Vote: