Media Release: 30 March 2011

Auckland Transport Board Secrecy is Unacceptable

The secrecy in which the Auckland Transport Board conducts its business is totally unacceptable.

"It is time for the Auckland Council to remind its transport CCO that they are a local government entity, and that Aucklanders expect transparent governance of the region's transport issues and assets," says the AA's Auckland Transport Spokesperson Simon Lambourne.

"The Board's March meeting agenda was made public with only one day's notice."

"The Board is refusing to publish the reports for each agenda item in advance of its meetings. These reports provide important background information on each issue and make recommendations to the Board. Copies of these reports are only being provided at the meeting, and much later online."

"Of greatest concern, and for the second month in a row, the agenda has failed to mention that the Board meets in closed session, and it has failed to list the subjects that will be discussed in those closed sessions."

"Most of Auckland's transport governance is being undertaken in complete secrecy and this is unacceptable."

"It is keeping Aucklanders in the dark about their transport decision making process, it is preventing public participation in the meetings, it is preventing any public scrutiny of their behaviour, and it is making a mockery of local government public accountability."

"The AA raised its concerns directly with Auckland Transport after similar behaviour at the time of the Board's February meeting. These concerns have largely been ignored and we believe we have no choice but to now go public with them."

"The AA has today written to the Mayor advising him of these concerns and asked him to act on them urgently as a matter of public interest."

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