12 Sep 2012

Council buy-local policy about to change

6:05 am on 12 September 2012

A buy-local policy at Auckland Council could be about to change - but not without a fight.

A new procurement policy is still being worked on but as it stands, a preference currently given to Auckland firms would be scrapped, allowing out-of- town companies to compete for contracts.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse wants a change to the new policy, because the council has huge spending power and should play an important role in helping businesses to thrive.

She said Auckland Council needs to look at the example provided by the state government in Victoria, which uses its procurement budget to reduce youth unemployment.