Auckland Transport passes the buck

ALL ABOUT FARE EVASION AND "Enforcement" Officers:

So I sent an email on 29/9/2015

The email wen to Minister Simon Bridges, other Ministers and the Mayor of Auckland.

All Ministers said, they'd get back to me, but have not yet done so (except for Ministerial staff promising response, that have NOT yet come as of 23rd October 2015)

Then, the Mayor sent the email to Auckland Transport to respond.

AT Transport's Mark Lambert responded on the 19/10/2015

Here is my initial email AND Mr. Lambert's response.

Read below and make up your mind... Are they passing the buck???
_____________________________________________________________

To: s.bridges@ministers.govt.nz Cc: P Bennett, Len Brown

Dear Minister Bridges

Congratulations on the implementation of this new measure to curb Fare Evasion.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/end-line-public-transport-fare-evaders

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I am curious though about how the Auckland Council will afford these new Enforcement Officers, given that a new restructure has effectively let go of an estimated 50% of front line Council staff.

Do you know how the Council will pay for these Enforcement Officers?

You'll see I have also posed this question to the Minister for Local Government and the Mayor of Auckland

Regards,

TeRata Rangi Hikairo

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Dear TeRata 

Subject: Fare evasion funding 

Customer Reference Number: CAS-115170-J9V3C4 

Thank you for your correspondence of 29 September 2015 sent to Mayor Len Brown regarding fare evasion funding. I have been asked to respond to your concerns on the Mayor's behalf. 

Under changes to be made to the Land Transport Act in 2016, councils may appoint warranted enforcement officers. At this time plans to improve the Security and Fare Enforcement on the rail network are in early stages of discussion and Auckland Transport is not in a position to provide further comment at this time. 

I trust this information is of use to you. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback which we encourage because it provides the opportunity to identify and prioritise customer-focused improvements across the public transport network. 

Yours sincerely 

 

Mark Lambert 

General Manager AT Metro 

Cc: Mayor Len Brown