Press Release
ISSUED BY AFFORDABLE AUCKLAND
Auckland Transport’s Big Party
Affordable Auckland’s Stephen Berry has today hit out at Auckland Transport for the One Team party held for employees
and their guests at The Cloud on Saturday. “Ratepayers sent a very clear message in the election that they consider the
responsible spending of ratepayer money to be a high priority. Auckland Transport certainly isn’t listening when they
throw enormous parties like this.”
According to Mr. Berry’s source, one thousand employees of Auckland Transport were invited to the party, as well as
partners and children. Entertainment included X Factor winner Jackie Thomas, jugglers, Bollywood dancers, four food
trucks and much more. The council controlled organisation also booked The Cloud on the waterfront to hold the event.
“This sort of event is completely inappropriate to be undertaken by a council controlled organisation,” Stephen Berry
says. “When a private company holds a party they are doing it with private money and it is their own decision how
responsibly they spend it. However when a company is publically owned and funded, they have a responsibility to the
ratepayer to be as frugal as possible. By holding this party Auckland Transport has failed miserably in that
responsibility.”
Stephen Berry does not have a dollar figure for the party at this time but guesses the cost will easily feature five
figures. “I will be making an official information request to find out exactly how much money was wasted by this event
and informing the public as soon as I have that information.”
“A conservative guess of 1000 attendees at $20 a head equals $20,000. However each attendee was allowed to take at least
one guest with them and I think it would be reasonable to presume that the average consumption per guest exceeded $20,
so we are looking at one very expensive party.”
Stephen Berry was the Affordable Auckland candidate for Mayor in the 2013 elections. He finished in third place with
13650 votes. Mr Berry vows to spend the next three years promoting the responsible use of ratepayer dollars and holding
all Council personnel accountable for their spending decisions.
ENDS