Does Auckland Council have its own Foreign Affairs department?

Councillors need to take control of CCOs.

Ratepayers might be shocked to learn that Auckland Council is maintaining its own "Foreign Office" with representatives in London and San Francisco and another about to be appointed to China.

The appointments have been made without the knowledge of Councillors who, yet again, seem to be kept totally in the dark by the Mayor and officials both in the Council and in the Council Controlled Organisations [CCOs]

The overseas appointments have been made by ATEED, a CCO which is funded largely directly from rates.

In the current year ATEED's operating costs are over $53 million, of which $46 million is funded from rates.

This organisation spends heavily on events which it claims bring economic benefits to Auckland, but states that the London appointment is to attract skilled workers to Auckland.

Ratepayers are asking why they should be paying rates for someone to be a recruiter for the business community.
Ratepayers are also beginning to wonder why Economic Development is part of Council core infrastructure and a legitimate recipient of ratepayers funds.

Councillors are frequently complaining of being ‘kept in the dark’ by both the Mayor and senior Council staff in relation to the CCO’s activities

It is high time the Mayor and Councillors acted together to take more control of the so-called Council Controlled Organisations, and also ensure senior management throughout the Council were required to be more open about expenditure which might be controversial.

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