Auckland Central Budgeting Consultants' manager, Pam McKenzie, is disappointed to have missed out. "We work with grassroots people who are struggling. We're struggling. We struggle to buy a packet of biscuits."John Landrigan in The Aucklander (the NZ Herald's excellent local magazine) reports on the charitable purposes of the Citizens and Ratepayers of Auckland City Council. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron wins; poor people lose. And it's not the first time, either: just last month, the people of Auckland paid for Remuera to have a carpark upgrade. And then there is the vanity publishing.
Others who missed out include Hobson Girl Guides, Migrant Services, Children's Autism Foundation and the Epilepsy Association, anti-child sex campaigners ECPAT NZ, Inner City Women's Group, Meadowbank Toy Library and Kidney Kids. Catholic Family and Community Services and Women's Refuge received a portion of what they requested.
Groups The Aucklander spoke to are bitterly disappointed and surprised at the inclusion of the squadron but do not want to publicly comment for fear of "rocking the boat" and missing out on future grants.
Here's an appropriate song from the Hot Grits:
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