Maps cause consternation

Auckland Councillors got their Nexus in a knot while trying to discuss the city’s future development strategy at a Planning, Environment and Parks committee meeting on May 4.

Cr Wayne Walker claimed the maps in the document were unreadable. He asked council staff to describe the areas because he was unable to see it on council’s digital platform, Nexus. Chair Richard Hills said that the maps were sent in a pdf document a week prior and were legible. Cr Maurice Williamson said the pdf was 60 pages.

“It bore no resemblance to the document. I did finally find the maps on page 54, down the very bottom,” Williamson said. He said he did not understand why Nexus was unable to show quality maps.

“Why do we have a system where councillors can’t see documents of quality?”

Chair Richard Hills explained the maps had been sent to councillors over email twice, with one email being titled ‘copy of maps only’.

“It is not my job to point to which emails councillors should read. I don’t have time to do that, but maybe next time I will,” Hills said.

Hills said Nexus was probably a very expensive programme and to get it to the level needed would probably be expensive. “Meanwhile, everyone is asking for spending cuts all the time.”