Auckland’s council-owned water company has spent nearly $40,000 on membership of the libertarian think tank The New Zealand Initiative. The council-controlled-organisation (CCO) spelled out the costs in a response to an information request, and its logo, including Auckland Council “family” branding, appearances on NZI’s membership page. “Watercare’s membership of the NZI is a decision for its chief executive,” a mayoral spokesperson said. Stuff contacted Auckland Transport, Auckland Unlimited, Panuku Development, and council-owned Ports of Auckland, all of which said they had never been members of NZI. Auckland Council is not shown as a current member, but is still to confirm whether it had joined in the past.

Source: Stuff January 26, 2021 21:52 UTC