Auckland, Aug 09, 2016 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Responding to the report released yesterday by Auckland Council officersrecommending that the Council's Development Committee reject the Independent Hearings Panel's recommendation that the remaining 2,213 Sites and Places of Value to Mana Whenua be removed from the Auckland Unitary Plan, Lee Short, chairman of Democracy Action, says:

“After considering extensive legal submissions and other evidence from a number of submitters, including Auckland Council, the Independent Hearings Panel recommended the removal of all of these sites from the Plan, giving a number of explanations why this should be the case. One of the reasons cited is insufficient evidence.”

“In the Panel’s view the sites have not been appropriately identified and evaluated to determine if they are indeed a site of value. However, Auckland council officers reject the Panel’s recommendation, stating that they do have sufficient evidential basis for the inclusion of 2213 sites in the Plan”.

“We call on Auckland Council to publicly reveal the evidence they claim to have. We need solid evidence to ensure that the property rights of Auckland citizens are not eroded without good reason”.

ENDS