Category: News

A News Post on something that has happened

Bribery Attempt Nipped

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Case to head to Court

From Auckland Council:

Council staff thwart attempted bribery 

Auckland Council is praising its staff for “doing the right thing” in immediately reporting an attempted bribery case now before the courts.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) today brought a charge of corruption and bribery of an official against a man who is alleged to have attempted to bribe a council resource consents staff member.

Council’s Chief Operating Officer, Dean Kimpton, says any form of bribery is unacceptable. Unfortunately from time to time there are reported incidents of suspected attempts to influence council staff and these are investigated thoroughly and action taken where appropriate. This action includes training and awareness-raising.

“We are very proud of the fact that in each case where staff members have felt concerned they have immediately reported it to a senior manager,” said Mr Kimpton.

He said Transparency International’s annual corruption perception index consistently shows New Zealand being perceived as having one of the least corrupt public sectors in the world.

Mr Kimpton said bribery is not part of New Zealand culture and to keep it that way requires constant vigilance from Council staff and members of the community, and to continue to do the right thing by reporting any attempt to bribe.

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LGBTI Advisory Panel Passes First Hurdle

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Still to be approved by the Governing Body

Note: Pressers placed in Talking Auckland are to be taken at the value you attach to them. I just pass the information on. Commentary does not always follow.

From Auckland Council

Rainbow community advisory panel gets first tick

Auckland Council’s Community Development and Safety Committee has today supported the establishment of a council Rainbow Community Advisory Panel.

If formally approved, the panel will provide a local government platform from which to effectively address issues of significance to Auckland’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) community.

A report presented at today’s committee meeting highlighted that GLBTI people continue to experience discrimination on an institutional and individual level as well as high levels of addictions, mental health issues and suicide. It also explained that people of diverse gender identity still face legal and social obstacles that impede their ability to lead their lives fully, safely and openly.

Councillor Cathy Casey, Chair of the Community Development and Safety Committee says the panel is a logical and necessary evolution of the Rainbow Door Reference Group established in 2010.

“The Rainbow Door Group has provided an invaluable service by offering an informal forum for both rainbow and mainstream service providers to meet with the council to discuss concerns, issues and opportunities. But it’s time to take that to the next level.”

She says rainbow community in Auckland has been asking for formal representation for many years from successive councils and that the creation of the panel will provide an important voice for the community in the same way other communities are represented.

“Council puts a lot of energy into acknowledging Auckland’s incredible diversity. And rightly so. We have a responsibility to represent all groups within Auckland and I want to ensure we have the widest possible representation of the GLBTI community through the creation of this new panel.”

The purpose of an advisory panel is to provide strategic advice to council on issues of importance to the community it supports, and to advise council on how to engage effectively with that community and its stakeholders.

Four demographic advisory panels were established in the first term of Auckland Council to represent disability, Pacific, ethnic and youth concerns – two by legislation and two on the initiative of the Mayor. A Seniors Advisory Panel has also recently been created to represent the interests of older Aucklanders.

The development of a rainbow community panel was endorsed by Mayor Len Brown at the 2014 Big Gay Out, and again at this year’s event.

The proposal to formally establish the Rainbow Community Advisory Panel will now go to the Governing Body meeting on 30 April for final approval and allocation of budget.

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Further Information

The committee agenda report ‘Rainbow Panel Proposal’ can be viewed on the Auckland Council website here.

Mayoral Fund To Assist Pacific After Cyclone Pam

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Fund Set Up

Note: Pressers placed in Talking Auckland are to be taken at the value you attach to them. I just pass the information on. Commentary does not always follow.

From the Office of the Mayor

Mayoral Fund poised to assist after Cyclone Pam

Mayor Len Brown is urging Aucklanders keen to help Ni-Vanuatu and Tuvaluan communities hit by Cyclone Pam to donate to the Mayoral Fund for the Pacific, which is geared up and ready to help.

The Mayoral Fund for the Pacific was set up in the wake of the devastation caused in Samoa by 2012’s Cyclone Evan.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Cyclone Pam, particularly the people of Vanuatu and Tuvalu as they face the aftermath. Our staff and Mayoral Fund committee members are working closely with our local Pacific communities and aid agencies on how best to help.”

“If Aucklanders would like to contribute to the Fund to help these communities, they can do so through the following channels. Cash is king, the most versatile way of helping immediately, and tax deductible donations to the Fund can be made at any time.”

The Fund is managed by Auckland Communities Foundation (ACF) and donations should be made through ACF as follows:

  • Via the ‘donate now’ function on the ACF website www.aucklandcf.org.nz
  • Via direct payment to the ACF bank account (with reference ‘MFP’ to ASB Bank account 12-3028-0714703-00)
  • Via cheque made payable to ‘Auckland Communities Foundation Mayoral Fund for the Pacific’ and sent to PO Box 26087, Epsom 1334

“We know people are keen to help, particularly our Pacific communities in Auckland, and donations to the Fund will help with immediate relief,” says Len Brown.

“We are currently working with aid agencies and our Pacific community representatives on what is the most appropriate response given the logistical challenges with distribution, particularly in Vanuatu.”

“At the moment, we are yet to confirm if family boxes are a preferred response, and if they can be effectively distributed to those who need them, and we will keep people informed as this becomes clearer.”

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Further Information

What is the Mayoral Fund for the Pacific?

MFP was established by Mayor Len Brown in 2013 to provide funds for Pacific Islands by way of grants for disaster preparedness, emergency relief, and to coordinate family to family responses in a state of declared emergency.

Who leads this Fund?

It is led by a team of Pacific community leaders appointed by Mayor Len Brown. It is administered by the Auckland Communities Foundation, who professionally manage a number of philanthropic funds.

Who is Auckland Communities Foundation?

Auckland Communities Foundation (ACF) is a charitable foundation and a trusted vehicle through which individuals, families, businesses and groups of like-minded people can invest their philanthropic dollars to support worthy causes across Auckland’s communities.  ACF manages a number of philanthropic funds on behalf of these donors.  ACF is also an effective grantmaker – and distributes funds as the appointed regional funding manager for The Tindall Foundation and administrator for the Auckland Airport Community Trust.

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Committee Decides in Relation To Kauri Issue

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Review of processes to be done

 

Note: Pressers placed in Talking Auckland are to be taken at the value you attach to them. I just pass the information on. Commentary does not always follow.

From Auckland Council

Auckland Development Committee discusses Kauri Tree issue

Today’s meeting of the Auckland Council’s development committee discussed concerns surrounding plans to remove a Kauri tree at 40 Paturoa Road.

Councillors heard from council’s resource consents and legal teams on the applications for 40 and 42 Paturoa Road. The committee discussed aspects of the consenting process including consultation with iwi and the local board.

The committee:

  • Agreed to undertake a review of processes involved in assessing and granting the consent applications to undertake development on the sites at 40 and 42 Paturoa Road, with the specific and sole purpose of identifying matters that could be improved in future council processes and to be included in Auckland Council’s submissions to central government on its current view of the RMA and report back to the Auckland Development Committee.
  • Directed the Chief Planning Officer of Auckland Council to lead the review to be undertaken on process
  • Agreed that council will continue to work with the land owners to seek a resolution to current concerns.

Committee Chair and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said:

“This recommendation means we can take a look at our processes to see what we can do better, particularly in how we communicate with local boards and mana whenua. It also means we can continue to pursue best practice to serve our communities.”

The results of the review will be reported back to the Auckland Development Committee on Thursday 16 April 2015.

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More from recent commentary here: COUNCIL REPLIES TO KAURI ISSUE + COUNTER ARGUMENT TO SITUATION