12.00pm
The Government's purchase of Kaikoura Island is to receive an $83,000 contribution from Auckland City.
The figure was agreed at today's annual meeting to set the council's budget and priorities for the forthcoming financial year.
Mayor John Banks said: "Auckland City is contributing its fair share to securing this piece of Hauraki
Gulf in public ownership conditional to the other councils in the region doing the same."
Last month the Government announced it had bought Kaikoura Island for $10.5 million with the ASB Trusts contributing at least $2 million. It was agreed the Auckland Regional Council would contribute $250,000 and a further $250,000 would be derived from the region's city and district councils.
The Mayoral Forum asked their chief executives to work out on a population basis each council's contribution. Six councils have been asked to contribute the following: Auckland City Council $82,817; Manukau City Council $63,346; North Shore City Council $41,027; Waitakere City Council $37,273; Rodney District Council $16,729; Papakura District Council $8,808.
"Kaikoura Island was always going to be a regionally and nationally-funded initiative and never one for Auckland City ratepayers to stump up alone. Auckland City already pays more than its fair share when it comes to funding regional amenities and assets," said Mr Banks.
He criticised Franklin District Council's refusal to contribute.
