October 25, 2022
Eke Panuku social investment applauded
An Auckland councillor says council-owned development company Eke Panuku needs to be judged on how it meets social objectives as well as its financial performance.
New mayor Wayne Brown has demanded the resignation of the board and slammed how much it pays managers.
However, board appointments are made by the whole council, not just the mayor.
Papakura Manurewa ward councilor Angela Dalton says Eke Panuku used $1 million from the sale of a block of land at Wiri to rubberise the surface of well-used netball courts in Manurewa.
“That has extended the life of the courts and it has reduced ankle injuries for our wahine playing. They have invested $800,000 into a cover over those courts as well which means everyone playing and umpires are protected from the sun and the rain and it just opens those courts up for longer playing times,” she says.
Ms Dalton says the local board would never have been able to find the budget to do that work.