March 12, 2018 4:00pm by David Farrar

Misleading WCC spin

For most people the experience of putting something through the spin cycle is to have your clothes shrink in the dryer. But for Wellington City Council, an attempt to spin the merits of reducing a potential 7.1% rates rise down to 3.9% has ended up with an announcement that they’re reducing rates down to 3.9%, which would be a 96.1% cut!

I can see how this has happened. It’s hardly new for politicians to try and be too clever by half about announcements, especially when they know it’s news that isn’t going to be universally popular.

In this case, the words “rise” or “increase” appear to have been omitted from the article. To illustrate the importance of those two words, 1News’ story about the announcement has interpreted the press release as meaning Wellington City Council will be reducing rates by 3.9%.

Yes WCC tried to spin a huge 3.9% rates increase as a decrease.

Note Justin Lester pledged in 2016 he would not vote for any rates increase over 3%.