Media release

Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Petition launched to keep Transit flying overseas flags

An email petition to convince Transit to keep flying overseas flags on the Auckland Harbour Bridge has been launched today.

Members of the public who support the retention of overseas flags being flown by Transit on the harbour bridge are encouraged to email bridgeflags@hotmail.com with their names and addresses. All the emails will then be presented to Transit.

The petition has been launched by Auckland business lobbyist, Cameron Brewer, who this month won a two-year battle with Transit to install a ‘Newmarket’ sign on State Highway One.

"No one wants Transit to stray from their core business of building and operating the state highway network, particularly here in Auckland. However lets not forget that they are a government agency paid for by the people, and the people don't like this latest unilateral decision one bit.

"Transit normally places a lot of emphasis on public consultation. Transit’s mission statement is all about being "socially responsible" and "proactively engaging with communities". On both accounts they've fallen down badly.

“On the 29 May Transit announced that it was axing this very popular practise within 72 hours - from 1 June. Such behaviour flies in the face of how government agencies should operate and so we're going to do the consultation for them.”

Mr Brewer said the flag issue does not have to be a complex one for Transit to manage.

"All they need to do is establish a permanent schedule where 52 set flags are each flown for one week a year. They need to be recognised countries and for fairness maybe they should be the 52 most represented countries in multi-cultural Auckland.

"At the last count Auckland is home to 181 ethnic groups. Aucklanders love seeing other countries’ flags being flown. It reminds us of what this city is all about. We are asking Transit to stop being so PC and show some pragmatism and commonsense," says Cameron Brewer.

Mr Brewer says he is hoping to personally deliver hundreds of emails to Transit’s office in the next fortnight.

Ends

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