Auckland Council saying but not delivering on Māori projects
Auckland Council saying but not delivering on Māori projects
An independent assessment of Auckland
Council expenditure shows a large gap between what is being
said, and what is being delivered to achieve Māori
outcomes. The report reveals not only a significant
underspend by council during the 18 month period, it also
highlights a lack of alignment between council’s intent,
to council’s strategy and delivery of specific Māori
initiatives. Inaccuracies in expenditure reports reveal
overstated claims of spending on Māori outcomes in the
first quarter of 2013 by approximately $200,000.
Of council’s $1.3 billion capital expenditure from the previous financial year, only $976,000 from an allocated $3.97 million budget for council identified Māori projects was spent; showing actual expenditure was less than 25% of the annual Māori project budget. The first six months of this financial year (to December 2013) shows expenditure at only 15% of the annual budget for these projects.
The Independent Māori Statutory Board engaged auditors
KPMG to identify and assess plans and related activities,
initiatives, projects and related expenditure connected to
delivery of Māori outcomes and whether council processes
supported these. This included stakeholder interviews with
council, council controlled organisations and external
parties which took place in early 2014 along with a review
of key documents and validation of actual expenditure
The
Independent Māori Statutory Board Chairman David Taipari
says, “These projects are vital in demonstrating cultural
identity and promoting successful partnerships. Supporting
KPMG’s recommendations to rectify poor quality reporting
to council committees in order to present a fair view of
progress against the Māori outcomes budget and council
leadership taking a top down view, will go a long way toward
achieving the successful conclusion of these
projects.”
ENDS