17 September 2012

Official Information Request No. 9000

(Please quote this in any correspondence)

Via email:

Dear Mr Ross

I refer to your email received on 19 July 2012 requesting a list of all expenses charged back to Auckland Council from the Local Government New Zealand Conference (2012) held recently in Queenstown. The Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) conference brings together elected members from across New Zealand to share ideas and experiences with the goal of better representation for their own communities. Conference 2012 was also an opportunity for delegates to discuss the proposed local government reforms, which will have a profound impact on the development of the country. LGNZ is responsible for the location of the conference venue. The conference is rotated around New Zealand. This year Christchurch was the original choice but that location was unavailable due to the earthquakes. Next year the conference is closer to Auckland in Hamilton. Auckland Council considered it important that Auckland contributes to the development of discussions on local government reform given our unique view of amalgamations and the governments proposed legislation. Considering the nature of these topics, Auckland representatives chaired a number of forums at the conference. Out of more than 500 delegates to the conference, Aucklands contribution of 35 people represented 6 per cent of the total delegates at the conference. These 35 delegates represented one-third of the country's population and the diverse communities and political backgrounds within our region. These included 5 council staff, 6 councillors, 22 local board members, and 2 Independent Maori Statutory Board Members. This number of delegates was fewer than the number that participated under the eight former councils. The total costs for Auckland Council participation in the Local Government New Zealand Conference was $86,234.79. The break down of these costs are as follows: Airfares Accommodation Registration Meals / Breakfast Session Conference Tours Transport Total $22,085.57 $13,955.79 $47,690.00 $453.99 $390.00 $274.44 $84,849.79

Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101

Please find attached a full breakdown on the attached spreadsheet. Non-refundable airfares booked for either elected representatives, IMSB members or staff who could not attend and whose trip was cancelled amounted to $847. The variance in accommodation costs are due to other incidental expenses i.e., breakfasts etc that were charged back to the delegates rooms. The tour was an official part of the conference whereby three options were presented to those delegates who chose to participate. The breakfast session was part of the conference and included a guest speaker. Please also note that registration costs for Cr Penny Hulse were paid by LGNZ as she was attending in her capacity as the National Council representative and a conference speaker. We apologise for the delay in responding and advise your right under s27(3) of the LGOIMA, to apply to the Ombudsmen to seek an investigation and review.

Yours sincerely,

Information Advisor Public Information Office Democracy Services

Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101

LGNZ CONFERENCE - QUEENSTOWN - JULY 2012

Name Council Staff 1 Mike Giddey 2 Claire Richardson 3 Theresa Stratton 4 Patricia Reade 5 Wendy Brandon Andrew McKenzie Councillors 6 George Wood 7 Richard Northey 8 Christine Fletcher 9 Alf Filipaina 10 Penny Hulse 11 Penny Webster Local Board Members: 12 Hine Joyce-Tahere 13 Chris Darby 14 Stephen Gray 15 Andy Baker 16 Bill Cashmore 17 Jill Naysmith 18 Jo Holmes 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Simon Randall Brenda Steele Gary Holmes Jack Weir Tracy Kirkley Brett Clark Lindsay Waugh Pippa Coom Ella Kumar Margaret Miles John Spiller Angela Dalton Denise Yates Peter Skelton Donna Lee Registration Airfares Accomm Breakfast Session Meals Conference Tours Transport Notes

early bird early bird early bird

1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,291.30 1,291.30

574.79 486.09 919.13 637.39 619.14 132.18 590.44 681.74 707.82 326.96 574.79 927.84 368.70 530.44 645.23 574.79 574.79 574.79 557.40 619.14 601.75 619.14 619.14 662.62 601.75 619.14 353.91 486.96 677.39 653.05 512.18 635.66 635.66 635.66

379.56 547.83 365.22 503.91 503.91

26.09

Cancelled - non-refundable airfare 389.57 206.96 438.26 382.61 389.57 462.61 365.22 365.22 376.52 365.22 365.22 365.22 578.35 425.22 380.00 491.31 382.18 497.83 432.18 415.65 365.22 444.78 374.78 395.65 356.52 412.17 0.00 403.48 30.43 30.43 30.43 30.43 30.43 30.43 30.43 30.43 30.43 26.09 26.09 26.09 26.09 195.44 26.09 Transport includes mileage, parking at airport and car hire Includes accommodation at Akl Airport both ways 26.09 26.09 26.09 Registration costs paid for by LGNZ 26.09

early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird early bird

1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,291.30 1,204.35 1,204.35 1,291.30 1,204.35

24.35

54.70 24.95

79.00 26.09

Taxi to airport and 2 meals Breakfast

30.43

26.09 26.09

Awaiting invoice from Hotel Replaced John McCracken

Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101

John McCracken Carrol Elliot IMSB Members 34 Anahera Morehu 35 Tony Kake John Tamahere James Brown Total GST

early bird

1,204.35

273.92 114.79 715.65 716.65 132.18 194.78 413.92 413.92

Cancelled - non-refundable airfare Cancelled - non-refundable airfare

1,291.30 1,291.30

Cancelled - non-refundable airfare Cancelled - non-refundable airfare 304.34 45.65 339.13 50.87

41,469.57 6,220.43

Totals incl. GST

47,690.00

22,085.57

13,955.79

349.99

104.00

390.00

274.44

$84,849.79

Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101