Christchurch City Council has paid almost $1.36 million to resource and environmental management advisory company, Mahaanui Kurataiao, over the past three years. And it won't say what the money was spent on.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union revealed through an OIA request the city council paid $1,359,152 to Mahaanui Kurataia over the past three financial years under an ongoing funding arrangement with the six Ngãi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga which established the company.
The city council declined to provide Star News with a cost breakdown of what the $1,359,152 was spent on.
"We are declining your request for each individual invoice under the following sections of the LGOIMA: 7(2)(b)(ii) to protect the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information, and 7(2)(h) to enable any local authority holding the information to carry out commercial activities," a spokesperson said.
Mahaanui Kurataiao's website says it works to improve the recognition and protection of "Rangatiratanga, mahinga kai and taonga species; within the respective takiwā of each Papatipu Rūnanga".
It also provides advice on plan changes, resource consents, archaeological authorities, and various other projects. It undertakes work across the region from the Hurunui River to the Hakatere/Ashburton River and inland to the Southern Alps.
The city council did provide a breakdown of the amount paid to Mahaanui Kurataiao over the past three years. In 2023, $534,030 was paid to the company, while last year it paid $466,071 and this year $359,050.
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union investigations coordinator Rhys Hurley says "ratepayers are being kept in the dark while over a million dollars flows to a single consultancy group".
"Everything from regulatory decisions to advising council on Ngai Tahu values is being used to get more out of ratepayers.
"The council’s refusal to release invoices isn't about commercial sensitivity but a lack of transparency over where this money is actually going.
"Over the same time Christchurch residents have faced average rates rises of nearly 25%, they deserve to know why such large sums are being handed out without proper public scrutiny."
Have your say: Should the city council tell people what the $1,359,152 paid to Mahaanui Kurataiao was spent on? Email your views to dylan.smits@alliedmedia.co.nz
