C&R Now blames rates rise on rivals

The conservative Citizens & Ratepayers Now ticket on the Auckland City Council has sent a letter to 10,000 households in the Hobson ward blaming Action Hobson councillors for rates increases of 15 per cent to 25 per cent coming their way.

The letter, signed by C&R Now leader Scott Milne and former Hobson community board member Aaron Bhatnagar, said Action Hobson candidates promised at last October's local body elections to keep rates within inflation.

"After the election, Action Hobson quickly broke their promises on rates, repeatedly debating and voting with the left in favour of an increase four times the level of inflation.

"This Action Hobson rates grab will mean an increase of 15 per cent to 25 per cent for many Hobson Bay residents," the letter said.

Mr Milne and Mr Bhatnagar also accused Action Hobson of putting the city back into debt to fund social housing and with "their left-wing City Vision partners have also given Auckland an anti-fun reputation".

Mr Milne yesterday defended the unprecedented move of posting a letter attacking political opponents outside an election campaign, saying it was his job to represent Hobson voters hard hit by rates increases.

The letter follows sustained attacks by C&R Now on Action Hobson since the new ticket grabbed two of the three Hobson seats and came within 233 votes of toppling Mr Milne at last October's local body elections.

The letter was timed to coincide with the first rates bills going out next week.

Mr Milne said C&R Now was entitled to let Hobson residents "understand they have got two councillors who are voting consistently with the left ".

Mr Milne admitted Action Hobson had voted with C&R Now against the social housing package and against lowering the uniform annual general charge, which has led to thousands of high-value Hobson property owners facing increases of 15 per cent to 25 per cent.

Action Hobson did, however, vote with City Vision-Labour for an overall rates increase of 9.7 per cent.

Action Hobson councillor Christine Caughey said the grouping did not want a rates increase higher than the rate of inflation.

"But we don't command a majority on the council. We are only two votes on the council and sometimes we have to swallow a rat," she said.

She said C&R Now knew "full well" that Action Hobson was not in bed with the left.

Citizens & Ratepayers Now:

Conservative ticket which ran the council until last year's elections.

Action Hobson:

Breakaway group formed partly out of opposition to the previous council's plan for an Eastern Highway.

City Vision:

Left-wing ticket which came to power last October with an agenda of extra spending, paid for by increased rates.