PRESS RELEASE JUST IN FROM NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYERS' UNION

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Tauranga City Council has spent a total of $67,739 on decorative artwork for a single bus stop with $50,000 or 73.8 percent of the cost on design alone.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Co-ordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“This is another case of councils treating ratepayers like an open chequebook. Nearly $70,000 on a single piece of bus stop art is absurd.”

“You could buy a new car for what they spent on artwork at a bus stop. Worse still, most of it went on ‘design’ not materials, not installation, but presumably someone sketching it out at a desk.”

"All this comes the same week the Council also celebrated the opening of its brand-new $45 million headquarters, as residents brace for a 9.9 percent rates rise." 

“The pattern is clear: the culture of waste will continue until councils are forced to live within their means. We need Rates Capping Now!"

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IN OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT COVERAGE:

SHAME, Tararua District Council:  The Story They Thought I Wouldn't Survive to Tell (Part One)