At the trough: Auckland Council spends $280,000-plus on catering

Friday, 7 October 2016

Food served by Auckland Council can range from the humble sausage roll through to multi-dish hot meals.

Auckland councillors and local board members spent more than $280,000 in a year feeding themselves at meetings.

As election day looms some local board members, including Kaipatiki Local Board member John Gillon and Orakei Local Board chairwoman Desley Simpson, say the council needs to put a stop to the lavish spending on food.

'We're all adults, surely we can arrange [getting food] without having our dinners and lunches catered for us,' Kaipatiki Local Board member John Gillon said.

In fact, Gillon and Simpson want council's well paid mayor, councillors and local board members, all 154 of them, to pack lunches like ordinary workers do.

Council figures show that in the 2014-2015 financial year Auckland Council's committees, including the Governing Body, spent nearly $130,000 catering meetings and events while Auckland's 21 local boards spent more than $151,000.

Orakei Local Board chairwoman Desley Simpson.

'I guess every boardroom in the country has lunch shouted by shareholders,' Waitemata and Gulf councillor Mike Lee said.

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'There could be savings on sometimes over-the-top, high-falutin' catering,' Albert-Eden Local Board member Graeme Easte said.

Ironically the budget committee was the biggest spender - racking up a $35,818 in the past year while the seven-member Orakei Local Board was the most lavish of the local boards spending $14,266.

Orakei chairwoman Desley Simpson said she couldn't believe her board's catering bill.

'It's disgraceful that it's that high.'

Simpson blamed Auckland Council's top-down 'management culture' that, she said, orders catering for boards whether they want it or not.

'There isn't one Orakei Local Board member who hasn't said 'we don't want or need the catering we get'.

'We don't see [the ordering], we don't approve of it.'

Simpson said she often works without a break from 9am to 5pm and unbidden 'the food just keeps on coming'.

Gillon agreed.

'I don't see why local board members who are paid a salary from council can't either buy their own lunch or just nip-out to grab a coffee or eat beforehand or after.'

'We're all adults, surely we can arrange that without having our dinners and lunches catered for us.

Albert-Eden Local Board member Graeme Easte also questioned catering costs but said it shouldn't disappear entirely.

Eight member Albert-Eden Local Board spent $10,872 on catering in 2014/2015.

'There could be savings on sometimes over-the-top, high-falutin' catering,' Easte said.

Easte questioned why several hot food dishes, fruit platters and finger food were served when more 'basic' fare would do.

Waitemata and Gulf councillor Mike Lee said although he 'tends not to eat at council', preferring to eat at home, Auckland Council is similar to corporate businesses.

'I guess every boardroom in the country has lunch shouted by shareholders.'

Auckland Council's democracy services general manager Marguerite Delbet also defended the council's catering policy.

'Catering budgets remain at conservative levels, where standard working lunches are provided, and is covered by the council's governance budget.

'Catering is provided on request however should elected members prefer not to have catering, they can opt out.'

Elected members as part of their duties may find themselves working long hours particularly during business meetings and providing 'readily available' catering helps productivity and efficiency, Delbet said.

Auckland local board 2014/2015 catering leader board

1. Orakei - $14,266

2. Rodney - $12,980

3. Puketapapa - $12,860

4. Hibiscus and Bays - $12,693

5. Maungakiekie-Tamaki - $12,146

6. Devonport-Takapuna - $11,285

7. Albert-Eden - $10,872

8. Manurewa - $9181

9. Mangere-Otahuhu - $7648

10. Otara-Papatoetoe - $7160

11. Howick - $6897

12. Whau - $5269

13. Waiheke - $4806

14. Great Barrier - $4648

14. Upper Harbour - $4143

16. Kaipatiki - $3826

17. Papakura - $3275

18. Henderson-Massey - $3015

19. Franklin - $2165

20. Waitakere Ranges - $1397

21. Waitemata - $1082