Neutrality concerns

BY MATT BOWEN

Questions have been raised about the neutrality of the city council’s communications department.

Since Manukau mayor Len Brown officially put his hand up for the supercity top job, council press releases should not be seen to endorse his campaign.

In an email to chief executive Leigh Auton, Howick councillor Jami-Lee Ross laid out his concerns.

"I hope at some point soon the council will stop operating as the Len Brown For Mayor campaign’s communications agent."

Attempts to motivate the department to issue press releases about decisions made at a recent accountability and performance committee meeting, which Mr Ross chaired, came to nothing, his email says.

"If the communications unit is too busy or unwilling to put something together on decisions taken at a council committee, how do they find the time to put together media releases on every political utterance of the mayor?"

It’s a fine line, he admits, but an important one not to cross.

And the communications team agrees.

Group manager communications and events Donna Baker says they’re very aware of the need to be politically neutral at all times.

Since Mr Brown announced his candidacy for the Auckland council mayoralty they’ve been working to the guidelines of Good Practice for Managing Public Communications By Local Authorities.

Principle 12 states: "A local authority must not promote, nor be perceived to promote, the re-election prospects of a sitting member.

"Therefore, the use of council resources for re-election purposes is unacceptable and possibly unlawful."

But Ms Baker says it’s also important to ensure Mr Brown continues to be seen as the leader of the city.

"The communications team will continue to support him and other elected members as appropriate as part of the day-to-day business of the council.

"Any issues that the mayor might raise as part of his campaigning for the Auckland council mayoralty will be addressed by his campaign office, not the council communications team.

"As group manager I take the responsibility of ensuring the information provided from the team is appropriate to the role."

- © Fairfax NZ News