Christchurch ratepayers victimised by adventure park saga
24 JULY 2019
Responding to reports that staff advised Christchurch City Council against bailing out the beleaguered Christchurch
Adventure Park, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says:
“This bailout suggests the Council should never have tied itself to the park in the first place. Now that the park is in
dire straits, the Council is desperately doubling down, ignoring the good advice of staff, throwing good money after bad
like a problem gambler.”
“The problem now isn’t just one of waste, but one of mission creep. A minority investment has turned into a majority
share in a white elephant, meaning core services like roads and rubbish will now be neglected by bureaucrats distracted
with a major commercial operation.”
“Councillors probably think that if they give on the Christchurch Adventure Park, they’ll be humiliated and punished at
this year’s election. But even ratepayers who appreciate the park will expect the Council to exercise financial
discipline. In cases like this, that means cutting losses and let the venture fail.”
ENDS