Second panel member quits

Resignation from council ethnic advisory group blamed on concerns at money wasted

Another member of the Auckland Council Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel has resigned, and the Herald understands at least two of the nine remaining panellists are on the verge of quitting.

Kafeba Pergoleze Alvis Mundele, one of only two on the panel who also served in the previous term, tendered his resignation at the weekend.

His resignation follows that of panel chairman Feroz Ali, who quit last week saying the panel was a “token” body, had no real status and that he was unhappy about what it was costing ratepayers.

Acting chairman Dave Tomu yesterday confirmed Mr Mundele’s resignation but would not comment further.

“I will wait until I have the meeting with the mayor, and also I need to report back to the whole group.”

Shortly after speaking to the Herald, Mr Tomu sent an email to the panel warning members not to speak to the media. He asked them to refer all inquiries to the council’s public affairs and communications team as per the panel’s terms of reference.

Mr Mundele did not return the Herald’s calls or respond to emails yesterday.

He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is a leader of the local Congolese community.

Mr Mundele is a pastor with a background in community development and banking, and is an advocate of human rights and social justice.

“Kafeba didn’t give a specific reason for resigning, but we know he shared the same concerns as Feroz,” said a panel member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

“As a pastor and someone who works with the refugees, he was very concerned about how much money the council was wasting on running this panel . . . which is pretty much just a joke, really.”

The member knew of two others who were considering resigning after giving their “honest feedback” to the council and the mayor.

The council said it cost between $70,000 and $85,000 a year to run the panel. The chairman received $500 and other members were paid $200 for every meeting they attended.

Kiwi-born board member Wong Liu Sheung said in an email to the group she was “sorry to see” Mr

As a pastor and someone

who works with the refugees, he was very concerned about how much money the council was wasting on running

this panel . . . which is pretty much just a joke. Panel member, about Kafeba Mundele

Mundele had resigned.

Ms Wong, who is of Chinese descent and had previously worked at the Office of the Race Relations Conciliator, Human Rights Commission and the Office of Ethnic Affairs, said in the email: “The EPAP is in my view an insult on the word ‘ethnic’.

“There is nothing that the panel does that I do not do as a ratepayer in Auckland. I write submission (sic), sign petitions and for that get letters from AC [Auckland Council].”

Last year, Ms Wong said, she asked for the Chinese community to present to a meeting its proposal to set up an arts and theatre complex at the Chamberlain Golf Course grounds.

“The fact that it has not happened shows the behaviour of the officials of the EPAP.” She said the message was that the council did not want to deal with anything outside its agenda.

“The message is so clear, it is embarrassing in itself,” she said.

Mayor Len Brown said a meeting tomorrow would discuss the issues.

“I am disappointed that no panel members raised these issues directly with me or my office,” he said. “When I first became aware that some EPAP members were concerned with the operation of their panel, I invited all panel chairs and their liaison councillors in for a discussion about how the panels are working.”