Auckland Council has spent $54,000 on uniforms for front-counter staff - an outlay that has been pooh-poohed by ratepayer groups as "pointless" and a "hard pill to swallow."
New outfits including scarfs, ties and silky tops have been worn by 130 staff at service centres and local board offices since February 13.
Council spokesperson Glyn Walters says the idea is to give the public an "easy way to recognise and connect with the right people at front of house".
NoMoreRates.com founder David Thornton says the drive for uniformity reminded him of the old Soviet Union, North Korea and the "huge Chinese bureaucracy."
"We don't need uniforms, we need friendly and helpful staff to deal promptly with our queries."
Before amalgamation the eight former councils took different approaches to uniforms - some departments had them, others didn't.
A review carried out early last year found it was important for customers to easily recognise council staff, the majority of whom were keen to either continue with a uniform or move to have one.
A plan was initiated in the middle of last year and a decision on supplier and style was made in October.
Mr Walters says staff take pride in wearing a uniform. "It enhances their professional approach to the important service they are delivering and acknowledges them as part of one team and one organisation."
Staff in other departments still wear uniforms from the former councils, but it was felt they should also be easily recognised as Auckland Council employees.
"Eventually, as and when these uniforms need to be replaced, they will be re-branded to reflect the single Auckland Council."
Takapuna Residents Association chairman Don Bidwell says the plan is pointless and staff should already be identified with a tag or lanyard around their neck.
"A uniform won't make them any more intelligent. It joins many other things that are of no appreciated worth by the ratepayer."
As an employer he could understand if a safety aspect was involved, "but if you're just supposed to be looking neat, I'd already expect you to be looking neat."
Eden Epsom Residents Association chairman Christopher Dempsey says he can understand the motivation for a consistent look, but on the proviso the Council didn't purchase "cheap Chinese s***," as it did with bunting during the Rugby World Cup.
"Decisionmakers in Council tend to go for the lowest costs without taking into account life-cycle costs and wear and tear. As the adage goes, you spend a penny and waste a pound."
Whenuapai Ratepayers and Residents Association chair Suzanne McFadden says her suburb is constantly fighting to get money to pay for things like drains and footpaths and to hear funds were being invested in uniforms was a "hard pill to swallow."
"They need some identification if they come to your house, but if they dress like everyone else they'll build up a better rapport with people."
Bucklands Beach and Eastern Bays Ratepayers Association chair Shirley Warren also thinks uniforms are unnecessary. "They're making everyone into sheep but we've already got enough sheep."
Mrs Warren said it was already obvious who council employees were: "they're sitting behind the counter on a computer - you can't miss them."
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