29 Oct 2017

Jobs could go at Auckland Council

7:41 pm on 29 October 2017

Jobs are under threat at the Auckland Council as it plans to cut more than $30 million from its budget.

A major review has found that over 230 full-time communication and marketing staff are employed across the council and its five agencies but there is little attempt to collaborate between them to save money.

Auckland City Council building

Auckland City Council building Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Currently, over $45 million is spent in this area and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said that's too much.

He expects jobs to go, but he's not sure how many.

Mr Goff said costs will be cut in each of the council's groups by at least 15 percent over the next three years, as recommended by the review.

But he said he's open to increasing cuts if more efficient ways of operating can be found.

Survey finds most people still don't trust Auckland Council

Phil Goff said it was not good enough that public trust in the council was still low a year after he's been in office.

Mr Goff promised to restore faith in the council when he was elected 12 months ago.

But an annual survey has found that only 17 percent of the public trust the council, up 2 percent from last year.

The council needed to work harder to move that figure in the right direction, said Mr Goff.

He said staff were always coming up with new ways of being cost-effective.