Auckland’s mayor has ordered an end to ratepayer-funded lunches at full council meetings after scrutiny of a catering bill that reached $1.4 million in the past year and nearly $5 million over four years, though meeting lunches themselves accounted for a relatively small portion of that total.
Initially dismissive of concerns when first approached by state media, the mayor later reversed course, saying the issue had become a distraction and councillors should focus on larger financial matters, while critics argue the broader problem is a lack of clear catering policy and inconsistent departmental spending.
Some officials defend the provision of light refreshments during long meetings as reasonable, while others say tighter controls are needed, with debate continuing over whether cutting catering meaningfully addresses wider financial priorities.
Image credit: Patrycja Jadach
It’s bad enough that we have to pay the salaries of these ‘inclusive’ parasites, but do we have to feed them too???
For all of his faults, at least Brownie has the balls to say “Bring your own lunch!”
No wonder the Auckland City Council hates Wayne Brown…
They can walk over to New World and buy sandwiches in the deli case, just like the rest of us do…that is, provided we can do so in this ‘unique economy…’
How about they get their lunches at the same place the schools get theirs. Or maybe an apple and a Vegemite sandwich
Good start.
Corrupt Tauranga City Council 470k on coffee,
Whats going on ?
This is the tip of the iceberg.
https://www.facebook.com/newstalkzb/posts/tauranga-city-council-has-copped-some-backlash-after-accepting-a-five-year-contr/1046501157501061/
…the broader problem is….bureaucratic parasitic entitlement.
Stop paying rates and the voluntary income tax (extortion) and the parasites will starve. Lets starve the parasites of the beast (STATE) system.
This will become easier to do when the shelves start to empty out and petrol, diesel & Jet-A is unavailable!
Then, your $2K power bill arrives…
Your homeowners insurance gets cancelled for the potential effect of ‘…(wait for it…wait for it..,) CLIMATE CHANGE / GLOBAL WARMING / ADVERSE WEATHER EVENTS!!!!
Don’t have an issue with coffee,tea or liquids being paid for since this is normal in companies & trades..Food however i believe should be brought in by yourself or at the minimum perhaps subsidized up to x amount per person.However this isn’t microsoft,apple or ubisoft where they have unbelievable catering off all manner of tasty goodness all free that’s better than most bakeries.Every dollar saved mounts up when other savings are made
Last time I looked, my employer doesn’t pay for my lunch. I can live with coffee in a meeting. I could possibly live with lunch for a whole day meeting.
But for every council meeting – that’s what your income is for – discretionary spend