Audit the council – Northern Advocate – 21st
November 2013.
Forensic Audit?
Wednesday’s Northern Advocate lead story ‘Affidavit
alleges skeletons in closet’ further substantiates my thoughts of a number of
years. As a candidate, I campaigned for a ‘Forensic Audit’ of the Whangarei
District Councils finances during the 2010 election and again recently in the
2013 local body election.
After personally attending council meetings since 2006
firmly believing we and others were only seeing what a number in council wanted
the public to see, hence my call was for the audit.
Today’s headlines and story confirm what we have
believed and I want to call for the authorities to investigate these
allegations that, have according to the story, been made under oath by a senior
staff member.
Surely those working within the confines of council
and who may be aware of such issues need to snap out of denial and use the
protection of the Protected
Disclosures Act, commonly called the 'whistle-blowers act' and gain the
protection from it to unearth these and other examples of bad behavior and
culture within council.
It is ratepayer’s money at stake and that should be of a
higher priority that the hides of a few that may be presently being protected.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant; so it is now time to
disclose what really has been going on.
I hereby call for a full forensic audit of the finances at
Whangarei District Council.
Warren
Slater
Maunu