Post by Kiwi Frontline on Aug 1, 2018 6:04:29 GMT 12
'TANIWHA TAX'.
R M writes > ‘Cultural advice’ a $2.5m dollar business in Christchurch
Imagine being paid to provide ‘cultural advice’ to a local council with access to endless ratepayer funds – while having your monopoly on the service protected in law.
That’s the cushy position of Christchurch’s Matapopore Charitable Trust, an iwi group that has received $2.5m since 2014 to provide cultural advice on rebuild projects – one recent example being $18,800 to rename a recreation centre.
Our comments are featured in the Christchurch Press’s latest investigation of the Trust.
The cultural advisory gravy train goes far beyond Christchurch. In Auckland, it is common for the Council to require iwi groups to be paid literally just to sign off on building projects.
It’s a disgrace, and was covered in our 2015 report on Auckland's earlier 'Taniwha Tax'.
R M writes > ‘Cultural advice’ a $2.5m dollar business in Christchurch
Imagine being paid to provide ‘cultural advice’ to a local council with access to endless ratepayer funds – while having your monopoly on the service protected in law.
That’s the cushy position of Christchurch’s Matapopore Charitable Trust, an iwi group that has received $2.5m since 2014 to provide cultural advice on rebuild projects – one recent example being $18,800 to rename a recreation centre.
Our comments are featured in the Christchurch Press’s latest investigation of the Trust.
The cultural advisory gravy train goes far beyond Christchurch. In Auckland, it is common for the Council to require iwi groups to be paid literally just to sign off on building projects.
It’s a disgrace, and was covered in our 2015 report on Auckland's earlier 'Taniwha Tax'.