Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance

Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance Fighting for reasonable rates and sensible spending in our Super City. We are a group of Aucklanders championing value for money from Auckland Council.

We expose waste, fight for lower rates, and champion accountability. Authorised by New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc, t/a Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, 55 Shortland Street, Auckland.

27/08/2026

We'll bet you can't guess this one...

Auckland councillors are pushing back on a proposed $1 million study into Mayor Wayne Brown’s beloved Meola Reef harbour...
25/08/2026

Auckland councillors are pushing back on a proposed $1 million study into Mayor Wayne Brown’s beloved Meola Reef harbour crossing idea. The proposal would see Auckland Council stump up half the cost.

At this point, you have to wonder…

Is this a serious transport plan, or just Wayne's favourite pet project? 😬😂

We’ve already spent millions on reports and studies about Auckland’s second harbour crossing.

Where do you lean?

24/08/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is urging Auckland Council to ensure that any congestion charge is revenue neutral.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman Josh Van Veen said:

“Congestion charging should be used to manage demand on Auckland’s busiest roads. It must not be another revenue grab.”

“At the upper end of the options being considered, a commuter could be charged $7 each way. That is $70 a week and potentially more than $3,000 a year just to get to work.”

“Aucklanders already pay for the transport network through their rates, fuel taxes and road-user charges. They should not be forced to pay again without receiving an equivalent reduction elsewhere.”

“Every net dollar raised from congestion charging should be matched by a dollar reduction in the rates bill. Anything less would turn congestion charging into just another tax.”

🎨 $548 million worth of art.Yet 98% of it isn't even on display.Auckland ratepayers own nearly 15,000 artworks, worth th...
18/08/2026

🎨 $548 million worth of art.

Yet 98% of it isn't even on display.

Auckland ratepayers own nearly 15,000 artworks, worth the equivalent of $899 per household — while Council plans to spend almost another $9 million on art-related costs this year.

Meanwhile, rates keep going up.

There's nothing wrong with public art. But when 98% is sitting out of sight, surely it's time to ask:

Do we really need to keep buying more? 🤔💸

$670,000 on gifts 🎁 All while water prices are going through the roof and infrastructure is failing.Aucklanders are bein...
14/08/2026

$670,000 on gifts 🎁

All while water prices are going through the roof and infrastructure is failing.

Aucklanders are being asked to pay more, while their money is being spent on gifts.🤦‍♂️💸

AT has been spending up big on gift cards too, $140,000 worth. 🎁Apparently, handing out gift cards is what happens when ...
12/08/2026

AT has been spending up big on gift cards too, $140,000 worth. 🎁

Apparently, handing out gift cards is what happens when it's not your money.

Is this really the best use of Aucklanders' money? 🤦‍♂️💸

If you haven't heard by now...Will you be using the CRL?
11/08/2026

If you haven't heard by now...

Will you be using the CRL?

🎁 $380,000 on gift cards.Aucklanders are being slugged with higher rates and bills, while Council hands out hundreds of ...
10/08/2026

🎁 $380,000 on gift cards.

Aucklanders are being slugged with higher rates and bills, while Council hands out hundreds of thousands in gift cards.

With rates, water bills and costs already going up, is this really where ratepayers' money should be going?

What do you think?👇

Auckland Council says it saved $97.2 million. Sounds good, right?Not so fast.Almost half of those "savings" — $47.3 mill...
09/08/2026

Auckland Council says it saved $97.2 million. Sounds good, right?

Not so fast.

Almost half of those "savings" — $47.3 million — were one-offs that disappeared on 1 July. That means they'll need to find the money all over again next year.

Higher fees, extra rental income and other temporary windfalls aren't exactly structural savings.

Ratepayers need real, ongoing savings, not accounting tricks that make the numbers look good for a year.

06/08/2026

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹'𝘀 $𝟵𝟳 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝘂𝗽

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling for greater scrutiny of Auckland Council’s claim that it exceeded its $86 million savings target, after a council report revealed almost half of the reported savings were one-offs.

Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson’s Value for Money Committee today celebrated $97.2 million in savings. However, $47.3 million of that total came from temporary measures that will not reduce the council’s ongoing costs and will need to be found again next year.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman Josh Van Veen said:

"This is being sold as a major success, but the fine print tells a very different story. Nearly half of these so-called savings vanished on 1 July, while next year’s savings target is even higher."

"Much of the result came from higher consent fees, increased regulatory revenue and rental income from properties the council has not yet sold. That is good fortune, not structural reform."

"Desley Simpson has promised to cap next year’s rates increase to 3.5 percent. But she will need more than one-off windfalls and creative accounting to deliver on that promise."

"There is still plenty of fat left to trim at Auckland Council. The Ratepayers’ Alliance would be more than happy to help identify it."

The Ratepayers' Alliance has requested a meeting with Deputy Mayor Simpson.

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