Continuity of Business Key for Auckland Transition

Continuity of Business Key for Auckland Transition Agency

Media Statement
22 May 2009

"Continuity of business must be the immediate priority of the five member Auckland Transition Agency" according to New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development Chief Executive Stephen Selwood.

Understandably Auckland councils have been reluctant to commit to work programmes and new capital infrastructure investment pending the appointment of the Transition Agency. Under the legislation that was passed last week, councils are not permitted to spend more than twenty thousand dollars without authorisation of the agency.

"Industry has been concerned that this will result in under investment and disruption of services for ratepayers in the short term.

"The priority is for the Transition Agency to set up a process which allows councils and their service providers to get on with business as usual and prioritise essential investment in the short term, so that the agency can focus its attention on addressing the complexities of merger.

"The last thing we can afford at this time is inertia", Selwood says.

ENDS

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