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The Wellsford Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) says its services are being threatened by cuts proposed in Auckland Council’s budget for the next financial year.
As part of plans to lower debt and reduce rate rises, Council plans to cut up to $2 million in funding to the city’s 32 Citizens Advice Bureaux.
In Warkworth earlier this month, Mayor Wayne Brown said that while he was sure CABs did a very good job, ratepayers should not be funding them.
“The issues they’re dealing with – immigration, welfare and so on – are Central Government issues. Ratepayers should not be picking up the bill,” Brown said.
Wellsford CAB chairperson Brian Wright says if the Mayor feels it is not a Council responsibility, then he should negotiate that with Central Government.
“But maintain our services in the interim,” he says.
The Wellsford CAB has been operating since 1986 and meets the needs of nearly 900 clients a year, from an area covering from Puhoi to the Brynderwyns.
Wellsford receives just under $40,000 in Council funding, which helps meet the salary of a part-time manager and minor running costs.
Everything else the bureau does is contributed by volunteers.
“We are a one-stop shop for free and confidential advice on a range of issues from legal services, consumer, tenancy, employment and relationships to budgeting and neighbourhood disputes,” Wright says.
“Our interviewers are well-trained volunteers. We have qualified budget advisors and Justices of the Peace, and language services in Mandarin, Indonesian and Hokkien. We also have a CAB Clinic on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Te Whai Community Trust in Mangawhai.”
The Wellsford service is based at the Wellsford Community Centre, and operates from Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 2pm.
Wright says people can help save the CABs by having their say at: akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ways-have-your-say-annual-budget-2023-2024
A petition has also been started. It can be found at: https://www.cab.org.nz or phone the Wellsford CAB on 423 7333.
