Kia Ora
My name is John Tamihere and I sat on the Finance and Performance Committee of the Auckland Council in 2016.
The sale of the Auckland Council Civic Administration Block (CAB) Building was advanced by way of a paper to this committee.
As usual, with all Panuku papers (Auckland Council Property Company), they advised council that they had carried out an exhaustive search for purchasers of the site, given they had moved to purchase the Auckland Saving Building on Albert Street.
Council representatives on this committee were left with no idea as to who had bid on the CAB building, what dollar values were bid on it and why the final decision was made to advance interests with a company known as Tawera Group in 2016.
We were not advised of the sale price, and in regard to my recollection was sold on the basis of bringing a $500 million investment into Aotea Centre.
We now know that the building footprint together with 5000sqm was sold by Panuku for $3m.
We also know that standard commercial terms were not met, in that a 10% deposit was not paid.
We also now know that the development agreement signed on behalf of ratepayers failed for want of due execution and delivery.
We need you to investigate this transaction because:
1. The footprint being sold as bare land is not a sale marked to market. In effect this is a strategic parcel of land the value is in excess of $3m
2. You must investigate why council officials overseeing this deal settled this parcel of land at a low rate and without a proper deposit being paid as is usual on commercial terms
3. You must investigate the connections between council officials involved in these negotiations and any pecuniary interests by way of connection with the purchaser or the purchasers’ agents and or other legal personalities4. You must investigate why this sale agreement was not terminated for want of execution and completion as was promised to myself and other members of the Finance and Performance Committee in 2016
5. You must investigate why the property was not taken back to a tender process in 2019 given firstly the lack of meeting conditions outlined in the development agreement and the fact that this property footprint continues to rise in value because the CRL Aotea station is destined to be the one of the busiest rail headson population through put in this country’s history.
I am aware of several other transactions conducted by this office (Panuku) which fit in to the same category of conduct.
I look forward to your responses.
John Tamihere
@JT.
Ooooo. Better get your worm spray out for when the lid on that particular can is prised open.
To paraphrase Hunter S Thompson: “In a world where everyone’s a criminal the only crime to be guilty of is of being caught.”
And can I respectfully say to you and all Maori who visit here. Happy Matariki Day.
+1000 – the council has become a fiefdom full of incompetent people and edging into corruption.
Auckland council is also very full of debt and our assets are being stripped for peanuts with our councillors and managers of the council asleep at the wheel, or worse covering it up and minimising it, aka Phil Goff!
Hope we get a change of mayor whose main priority is to stop and investigate fraud and assets stripping by the council employees and their ‘legal’ representatives who are benefiting.
Drain the swamp! Although linked to Trump, it is needed around the world for public services and that is why it is such a catchy phrase!
This is what happens when you transfer public asset controls to CCO’s like Panuku.
This is what happens when councils goes bankrupt…
Detroit Shuts Off Water To Thousands Of Broke Residents
https://thinkprogress.org/detroit-shuts-off-water-to-thousands-of-broke-residents-a4056e424137/
We have already seen similar in NZ and nothing done to the councillors and council employees who should be prosecuted for incompetence but instead get golden handshakes…
Kaipara ratepayers face 31% rate rise
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11062236
Kaipara council chief given $240k golden handshake
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7522398/Kaipara-council-chief-given-240k-golden-handshake
Happening all around the world where neoliberalism lives and when the councils go bankrupt then VERY lucrative to those who believe in neoliberalism as the fire sale, billions of assets and monopoly aspect make it highly profitable for private interests!
Tory shire that’s going bust: Bankrupt council faces slashing services amid growing anger over £70m black hole
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6017075/Bankrupt-council-faces-growing-anger-70million-black-hole-skeleton-services-offered.html
Panuku and other CCO’s should be investigated for corruption and crony deals like this one, which should be prosecuted by the SFO and police as theft. The entire ratepayers, left and right will be affected if this rot is allowed to spread.
And much greater penalties given because it is theft from the public and using their role to benefit!
Panuku and CCO legal representation should be put under investigation from the law society, to investigate how such a shoddy deal was allowed by legal entities with public assets at stake.
Legal companies should be cancelled at any case from being allowed to be used by councils and CCO’s.
@ SAVENZ. Let me introduce you to my friend Mr Oftheiceberg. Mr Tip Oftheiceberg.
Apply your thinking to the broader, primary economy? Our agrarian economy. Now? Follow that line of inquiry back 150 years and you’ll see why we’re NOT one of the richest countries per head of pop’ in the world.
Graeme Hart just bought a $51 million dollar apartment in NYC so I read. Isn’t that wonderful?
I bet the homeless and those living in their cars here are very happy for it. Sorry, I mean for ‘him’. Very happy for ‘him’.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12238060
WHAT?!
When was this letter written?
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