Unruly public upsets AT board

Auckland Transport is tightening its rules around public attendance at its board meetings.

The changes include tougher rules around recording proceedings, either in person or online, and attendees not interrupting, making offensive comments or comments that may “prejudice the conduct of the meeting”.

Several protocols on its Rules & Etiquette page are in bold, and twice on the list it notes that the board chair may have people removed from a meeting.

The changes follow a board meeting on June 25 when a member of the public, Gael Baldock, spoke about the closure of Smith & Caughey’s.

“You guys have been the major part of killing Smith & Caughey’s by having your revenue traps that kill retail,” Baldock had said.

Her presentation was on a timer so that she didn’t take up any more than her allocated five minutes, “God forbid”.

This is not the first time Baldock has ruffled feathers at Auckland Council. She used to move around the council table handing out copies of the Ponsonby News. Shortly after this, a barrier was put up between the public gallery and councillors. In recent weeks, it has been upgraded from a metal chain to a red velvet rope.