May 22, 2026
REVEALED: Council fat cats spend $900k on food and drink while slashing CAB funding
The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act response that Wellington City Council spent more than $896,809.82 on catering between 1 July 2022 and 31 March 2026. This follows this week’s announcement that council is cutting $130,000 from the Citizens Advice Bureau budget.
Breakdown:
2023: $241,450.65
2024: $238,341.50
2025: $302,564.67
2026 as at 31 March: $114,453.00
Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman James Ross said:
“At the same time the Citizens Advice Bureau is having its funding slashed by $130,000 because of Council ‘cutbacks’, Wellington City Council has nearly spent that this year already on wining and dining. Last year’s catering and alcohol bill would cover the shortfall for CAB funding more than twice over.”
“When it comes time to cut costs, a key community service like the CAB is on the chopping block while the bureaucracy keeps feeding itself. Not only are there a few too many rich listers at Wellington City Council, but it seems like they’re hungry too.”
“Councillors need to put an end to these city officials feeding and boozing themselves courtesy of the same ratepayers who’ve faced 47 percent increases in their bills over the last three years. With dozens of bureaucrats on more than $200,000, I’m sure they can afford to bring a packed lunch.”
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