AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE
8 November 2006
Auckland City increases support of Citizens Advice Bureaux
Auckland City increased its ongoing support of Auckland’s Citizens Advice Bureaux by recently approving an additional
$130,000 in funding, bringing the total annual grant to $642,162 for 2006/2007.
The Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) provides a free high-quality information advisory advocacy and support service to
Auckland city’s increasingly diverse community. Thirteen branches are established across Auckland city, offering 42
languages, a dedicated Mandarin line and separate International Student Service Centre. The first Auckland city branch
opened in Ponsonby in 1970.
CAB is a voluntary organisation providing free, confidential information and advice to anyone about any query or
problem. In the 2006 financial year, CAB received 149,699 enquiries, an increase of 60 per cent since 1999.
“There is considerable growth in the number and complexity of enquiries to Citizens Advice Bureaux. Auckland City is
committed to enhancing the city’s cultural diversity and building strong local communities by this accessible and well
used information and advice service,” says Councillor Cathy Casey, chairperson of the Community Development and Equity
Committee.
Staff at CAB are trained volunteers who can access information by computer or from the extensive range of resources held
by each branch.
The funding increase will come from Auckland City’s Community Planning diversity fund, reflecting CAB’s significant
contribution to supporting diversity in Auckland city.
Ends