March 20, 2023
Vulnerable targeted in mayor’s austerity budget
Outspoken Auckland councillor Angela Dalton says Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed budget cuts will disproportionately affect vulnerable or lower socio-economic communities including Māori and Pacifica.
The Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor says the Southern Initiative, which has been working to kick start social and community innovation in South Auckland, it to be axed.
Ten council-owned early childhood centres will close, and the mayor is shutting the door on homelessness initiatives.
Ms Dalton says marae, many of which became emergency shelters during recent extreme weather events, will keep much of their support funding, but the devil is in the detail.
“So the money’s still there for marae in terms of .. I think it’s $150-million over ten years.. But when we look at things that are important, like helping our marae fill in application forms, directing people to the right place, supporting climate change activities… The Southern Initiative is going completely – all of those little things are being cut,” she says. Submissions on the budget must be in by 11pm on March 28.