A mysterious private investigator is roaming Auckland, checking on people's satellite dishes for a secret client.
Steven Norman, a private investigator for City of Sails Investigations, has been asking Sky TV owners if they have council permission for their dishes.
But the question has puzzled Manukau and Auckland council officials,who say ordinary satellite dishes do not need resource consents and they have not ordered any investigation.
Yesterday, Mr Norman and the manager of City of Sails Investigations, Nicholas Coc-Kroft, said they had been instructed by their client not to comment.
Satellite dishes can require resource and building consents costing between $500 and $1000 under the district plans for Manukau and Auckland, depending on their size and how they are mounted.
So far, Mr Norman has lodged 15 queries with the Auckland and Manukau City Councils over "super satellite dishes," which stand 2m and need consents.
But he has also questioned the owners of small Sky TV dishes, which do not need consents.
Among those investigated was Manukau City councillor Sharon Stewart, who owns a Sky TV satellite dish.
Mrs Stewart said Mr Norman knocked on her door and left his card before taking a picture of the dish. "I thought, 'boy, this sounds really weird'."
Her concern was shared by city manager Colin Dale, who had also come to Mr Norman's attention. He confirmed yesterday that Sky TV dishes did not need council consents.
Glenn Teal, Manukau's manager of citizen and customer services, said they were following up Mr Norman's concerns, but he admitted the investigation was pretty strange.
"If you put one of those things up in your backyard and your neighbour complained, I can understand that. But on such a broad scale, and to hire a private investigator, is pretty strange. We'll be intrigued to see what the answer is."
He said the council did not actively search for illegal dishes, garden sheds or fences.
Grant Eveleigh, manager of satellite dish installers Aimco Aerials, said that before installing the large dishes his company asked customers to get the correct consents. This avoided potential disputes with neighbours.
