​Declined public input “anti-democratic”, councillor says

Public and local board input was declined on the draft golf investment plan causing concerns for democracy from Cr Greg Sayers.

At the Park, Arts, Community and Events Committee on September 22, chair Alf Filipaina declined public input from Golf New Zealand and local board input from Takapuna-Devonport, Kaipatiki and Albert-Eden as it was against the standing orders for the committee.

“A speaker may not use the time allocated for public input to speak about a matter that has a separate public hearing or consultation process attached to it,” Filipaina said.

“We have had a consultation process attached to (the draft golf investment plan) even to the extent that we extended it a month.”

Cr Greg Sayers challenged the committee chair's decision to decline public input.

“It seems that that means no group or individual who goes through that consultation process would be able to speak with us directly,” Sayers said.

“I would look forward, as a councillor, to hearing from those individuals and it seems a little bit anti-democratic for lack of a better word that people do not have the opportunity to do that.”

“It seems to be something that has happened a lot, not just through your committee chair.”

Sayers said he was disappointed that the standing order prevented input.
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Franklin local board chair Andrew Baker later commented during his input that he felt “privileged to be here given the number of people declined.”