Auckland Council’s water company pays nearly $40,000 to think tank

Auckland’s council-owned water company, Watercare, has spent nearly $40,000 for a membership with the libertarian think tank, The New Zealand Initiative. Stuff reveals the spending came to light as Watercare proposed delaying some major projects and hiking water prices by 7 per cent, to offset an Auckland Council-wide budget squeeze over the next few years. Watercare says it hasn’t yet considered whether it will renew its membership this year.