- By Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter funded by New Zealand on Air
A heated debate erupted over the Auckland Council’s consultation process for speedway with some councillors calling the process “fraudulent” while others questioned their colleagues’ behaviour.
At the council’s recent Governing Body meeting, councillors voted to transfer $11 million in funding to the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board to support speedway at Waikaraka Park, at Te Papapa, effectively ending speedway racing at Western Springs.
During a previous meeting, it was revealed that a council report had misrepresented Speedway New Zealand’s views, prompting councillors to adjourn the item while staff reviewed the information’s accuracy.
Governance and CCO Partnerships executive officer Anna Bray led the review of the council’s process over two days.
“The position is that [Speedway New Zealand] wholeheartedly support the upgrade of Waikaraka Park but were not explicitly consulted on the fact that this would mean the end of speedway racing at Western Springs, therefore they could not hold a position on that,” Bray said.
The review found another letter that was attached needed to be withdrawn from the Auckland TQ Midget Association because it represented the personal view of one person and not the organisation.
“It’s unclear how the letter got onto the agenda in the format that it did. We’re still looking at how that might have occurred.”
Bray said all the other letters of support that were attached to the agendas had been confirmed as accurate.
Councillors, John Watson and Mike Lee, put forward an amendment to defer a decision on speedway at Western Springs Stadium until the council conducted a thorough consultation.
Watson questioned how the public could have confidence in the process when stakeholders only found out about the decision at the 12th hour.
“We have been through an absolute sham [of a process]. There are people in here who know exactly what is happening and have not said dicky bird for two years,” Watson said.
He said the operator had been given an ultimatum and given their support “almost at the end of a gun”.
Councillor Wayne Walker said the consultation had seen stakeholders presented with no other options than to see speedway leave Western Springs Stadium.
“The budget has been fudged. The consultation has been fudged and some of it arguably has been fraudulent,” Walker said.
Councillor Chris Darby said the seven hours of discussion was embarrassing and one of the poorest examples of good governance.
“I have been embarrassed to hear such words as ambush, jack up, fraudulent,” Darby said, but interruptions began from the public gallery and other councillors.
He told councillors to “hire your own room now and speak to some blank walls forever. This is my turn.”
Darby said the decision came down to the fact that council was “bleeding badly” with speedway at Western Springs Stadium.
Councillor Andy Baker said he was disappointed with the veiled attacks on staff from other councillors.
“I want to thank our staff for the way in which they have conducted themselves because they have no way of responding when we, like schoolyard bullies, start to attack them,” Baker said.
The amendment was voted down seven votes to 12. The motion to transfer the funds was voted in favour of with 11 votes to eight.
