NZ road deaths [repeat flouting of Road Code] + Self-driving car technology

“It’s horrific. What’s meant to be a festive and family time have been completely shattered by these accidents.” –Greally

### NZ Herald 6:21 AM Wednesday Jan 4, 2017
Holiday road toll ends, 19 dead
Nineteen people lost their lives on New Zealand roads over the Christmas and New Year period. The youngest victim was 2-years-old. The official holiday road toll ended at 6am today. It began on Friday, December 23. Last year’s holiday road toll saw 12 people killed on New Zealand roads, with 71 people seriously injured and 296 minor injuries, according to the Ministry of Transport. […] National road policing manager Steve Greally said earlier the high number of deaths was disappointing and devastating for families.
Read more

█ NZTA Road death statistics

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Published on Dec 13, 2016
Meet the Blind Man Who Convinced Google Its Self-Driving Car Is Finally Ready | WIRED
Google is getting serious about self-driving cars. So serious that it put a legally blind man in one that drove him around safely on his own. The successful trip means that the tech giant can now launch its own self-driving car company, which it’s calling Waymo.

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Consumers will probably get their first taste of automated driving in the backseat of a robo-taxi.

### bloomberg.com ‎3‎ ‎Jan ‎2017‎ ‎1‎:‎01‎ ‎p.m.‎ ‎NZDT
It’s Aye, Robot, as Driverless Cars Finally Steer Near Showrooms
By Keith Naughton and Mark Bergen
● 140 CES exhibitors from Google to Audi seek auto-tech buyers
● Autonomy is ‘next major battlefield’ for global automakers
Car electronics supplier Delphi Automotive Plc went coast-to-coast in 2015 in a self-driving Audi Q5 sport-utility vehicle to prove the autonomous automobile had arrived. Now, Delphi is shifting from stunts to selling. In Las Vegas this week at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, the company will give test rides to hundreds of potential customers in driverless Audis over a course of rugged terrain and tunnels. The goal: to walk away from this critical conclave with a handful of hot prospects for its self-driving system. “The last two years at CES have been more about just showcasing the technology and saying, ‘Look what it can do,'” said Glen De Vos, Delphi’s vice president of advanced engineering. “This year, the discussion is all about the path to production.” Self-driving cars are finally making the leap from the lab to the showroom. Tesla Motors Inc., BMW, Ford Motor Co. and Volvo Cars have all promised to have fully autonomous cars on the road within five years. Alphabet Inc. just spun off its Google Self-Driving Car Project, renaming it Waymo, and then promptly unveiled its driverless Chrysler Pacifica minivan and said it’s in discussions to put its technology into Honda Motor Co. models. When CES officially opens Jan. 5, the talk won’t be about proving technology — it will be about selling to automakers, ride-hailing companies, transit services and, ultimately, consumers.
At a show once known for mobile phones and video games, vehicle technology will cover an exhibit space the size of four football fields, some 21 percent more than last year. Some 138 auto-tech exhibitors will all be seeking a piece of the autonomy business that Boston Consulting Group says will increase to $42 billion by 2025 and account for a quarter of global sales by 2035. And since it takes about four years to bring a car to market, now is the time to cut deals with suppliers and tech partners to outfit models with self-driving systems that will debut early next decade.
Read more

█ For a QuickTake on issues surrounding driverless cars, click here.

[click to enlarge]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

Tesla Motors to open new location every four days #electrictravel

Elon Musk : At Tesla we don’t make slow cars………….

Tesla Electric Cars:
1. Roadster – luxury class
2. Model S – luxury class
3. Model X – luxury class
4. Model 3 – To meet the Affordable cars market, starting cost US$35,000 (before government incentives), at least 215 mile range with autopilot hardware and supercharging, seats 5 adults comfortably. Due on the road by late 2017.

Tesla currently makes the Model S sedan and the Model X sport utility vehicle.

Model 3 design phase and tooling design are completed, they’ve been sent off to manufacturing to start fitting out the plant : “the machine that makes the machine” —Elon Musk, South African-born Canadian-American business magnate, engineer and inventor; co-founder, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors, Inc.

Tesla Model 3 [auto-moto.com]

█ Tesla Motors, Inc. is an American automotive and energy storage company that designs, manufactures, and sells electric cars, electric vehicle powertrain components, and battery products. Tesla Motors is a public company that trades on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol TSLA. During the first quarter of 2013, Tesla posted profits for the first time in its history.

█ Website: Tesla: Premium Electric Vehicles

● Elon Musk (@elonmusk) https://twitter.com/elonmusk

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“We are adding stores in new population-dense markets like Taipei, Seoul, and Mexico City, while also adding stores in our most mature markets like California.” –Tesla’s best-performing stores are in the Golden State.

### NZ Herald Online 1:30 PM Thursday Aug 11, 2016
Tesla opens flagship San Francisco store in advance of Model 3
By Dana Hull – Bloomberg
Tesla Motors marked the opening of its largest North American sales, service and delivery centre in San Francisco, a key market from which Elon Musk’s electric-car maker will introduce its all-important Model 3 sedan late next year.
Though Tesla is based in nearby Palo Alto, the 65,000-square-foot (6,039-square-meter) San Francisco centre is the company’s first in the city, where one-fifth of residents don’t own a car and ride-sharing services led by Uber Technologies are emerging as a dominant form of transportation. The location was originally home to a Chevrolet showroom built in 1937, the year the Golden Gate Bridge opened.
“Model 3 reservations skew young and urban,” Jon McNeill, Tesla’s president of global sales and service, said in an interview Tuesday before an evening event for nearly 400 attendees, including customers. “What makes this our flagship store is that the Bay Area is really our home.”
The three-storey San Francisco store is located on Van Ness Avenue, up the street from British Motor Cars, an independent dealer that sells Land Rover, Jaguar, Bentley and Lamborghini brand vehicles.
Read more

Tesla Published on Mar 31, 2016
Tesla Unveils Model 3

WatchMojo.com Published on Apr 7, 2016
Top 5 Need To Know Facts About the Tesla Model 3
Electric cars were once the stuff of sci-fi, but Tesla Motors is steadily turning them into an affordable reality.

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OTHER VIDEOS
Tesla Published on Dec 19, 2013
Winter Driving Redefined
We followed one of our Norwegian owners, Arne Jakobsen, through his daily commute with Model S. Watch how it performs in sub-zero temperatures, through the mountains and fjords of Norway, and hear why Arne believes he can rely on Model S to get him to places other vehicles simply could not reach.

EdisonTechCenter Published on Mar 7, 2014
Electric Motor: Model S, Tesla Motors
About the motor and drive train in the Model S sedan. 4 pole 3 phase induction motor. 290 kilowatt motor. The Tesla Model S beats all other cars in its class for power to weight ratio. This car is a great example of the potential of electric cars.

Saabkyle04 Published on Feb 9, 2016
2016 Tesla Model X P90D Signature w/Ludicrous Mode – Power Up, Test Drive & In Depth Review
Hello and welcome to Saabkyle04! YouTube’s largest collection of automotive variety. In today’s video, we’ll take an in depth look at the 2016 Tesla Model X P90D!

Bloomberg Published on May 2, 2016
We Took the Tesla Model X on a Road Trip. Here’s What We Found Out
Bloomberg Pursuits’ Hannah Elliott put the Tesla Model X through its paces for five days along the California coast. Elliott first drove the $151,000 SUV briefly in Los Angeles last year and at the time thought it was one of the best cars she’d ever tested. But a 340-mile road trip brings out the pros and cons of any vehicle. The Model X was no exception.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Election Year. This post is offered on the public interest.

Non-arterial Riccarton Road : Brian Miller stirred by community board

ODT 28.5.16 (page 30)

ODT 17.5.16 (page 8)

[click to enlarge]
DCC Webmap – Riccarton Road, Mosgiel JanFeb 2013

Related Posts and Comments:
5.6.14 DCC Transport Strategy and Riccarton Road
24.4.14 DCC promotes Riccarton Rd as sole heavy traffic bypass

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin: Veteran, vintage and classic cars #driveacrossthecity #farewell

THIS EVENING

Photo: Adam Binns

### ODT Online Fri, 22 Jan 2016
Vintage car parade planned for tonight
The International Festival of Historic Motoring is putting on a farewell for Dunedin people this evening, showing off veteran, vintage and classic cars to residents in a drive across the city. The festival has released a list of streets from where the public can view vehicles as they pass (times approximate):

7pm: Queens Dr, Prince Albert Rd and King Edward St

7.30pm: Kaikorai Valley Rd between Stone St and Taieri Rd, Brockville Rd and Dalziel Rd to Three Mile Hill Rd

8pm: Gordon Rd, Factory Rd, Hagart Alexander Dr, Quarry Rd into Morris Rd

8.30pm: Main Rd Fairfield, Main South Rd Green Island.

ODT Link

****

previously….

###drivesouth.co.nz Sat, 16 Jan 2016
Festival takes city back in time
By Catherine Pattison
Dunedin yesterday became the hub for the Vero International Festival of Historic Motoring as 600 cars and motorbikes arrived for the nine-day event. The city’s inhabitants can be forgiven for feeling as though they have gone back in time as they see the multitude of old vehicles cruising the streets.

“It is going to be fantastic for Dunedin. It brings in a huge amount of people to see our wee town. Most of these cars have never been seen all in one place.”

Many of the expected 1200 owners are Kiwis, which is not surprising as the Vintage Car Club New Zealand (VCCNZ) has more than 8000 members and 13,000 vintage, veteran and classic cars and motorcycles listed on its database. However, there will be about 60 owners coming from Australia, with others travelling from Scotland, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Sweden and Switzerland. The farthest travelled will be Lord-Lieutenant of Orkney Bill Spence, who has sent his 1932 Lagonda to Dunedin for the festival.

Run by the VCCNZ Otago branch, it is the first time the festival, which has been to New Zealand nine times previously, will be hosted by Dunedin.
Read more

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█ More information + 2016 Festival photos at:
The Vintage Car Club of New Zealand (Inc) http://vcc.org.nz/

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

[Stuff] Citifleet: court proceeding

Updated (via Hamish McNeilly/Fairfax Media)
Wed, 18 Nov 2015 at 3:20 p.m.

█ Court date pushed back to February.

Civil proceedings against Maria Frances Smith were due to be heard at the High Court in Dunedin tomorrow morning, with the council listed as the plaintiff, but the case has been adjourned until February 4.

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Link received from Fairfax Media.

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 14:07, November 18 2015
Dunedin City Council to take widow of sole Citifleet suspect to court
By Hamish McNeilly
The Dunedin City Council has launched civil proceedings against the widow of the man believed to be responsible for the $1.5 million Citifleet fraud. The council lodged the proceedings against Maria Frances Smith, the widow of Brent Bachop, with the Dunedin High Court. A hearing, understood to be about Bachop’s estate, was originally set down for Thursday but will now happen in February.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Citifleet investigation: Final police report 29.10.15

(via OIA) Copy of final report of the NZ Police investigation into Citifleet.
The information released is the same as given to media outlets on Thursday, 5 November.

[poor copy as supplied; heavily censored]

█ CITIFLEET POLICE REPORT Final 29.10.15 (PDF, 2 MB)

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *bachop*, *bidrose* or *vandervis* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Stuff: Police release final Citifleet report

Updated.
Fri, 6 Nov 2015 at 2:40 p.m.

Over an 11-year period, 152 vehicles were unaccounted for, while more than $100,000 was misappropriated on a council fuel card.

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 16:21 05/11/2015 | 11:34 05/11/2015
No-one charged with $1.5m Dunedin council fraud case
By Hamish McNeilly
No-one will be charged with the $1.5 million Dunedin City Council Citifleet fraud, a final police report reveals. Dunedin Police have released the final report into the fraud, involving the theft of more than 150 council vehicles and misused fuel cards, after the earlier release of an investigation report to Fairfax Media. That report was reviewed by Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis, who concluded there was “insufficient evidence to charge any of the purchasers of the vehicles with the offence of receiving”.

“No other charges have been identified.” –Police report

Deloitte interviewed 62 people in relation to the theft of the vehicles from the council and the “majority of those persons were council employees”, the police report said.
● The council was expected to release a response to the police report on Thursday afternoon.
Read more

ODT: Police review backs Citifleet decision
No comments allowed.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet: Redactions redactions

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Det Snr Sgt Inglis’ review (February 2015) stretched to four pages, but about half its contents were blacked out prior to being released.

### ODT Online Thu, 15 Oct 2015
Citifleet review findings blacked out
By Chris Morris on Thu, 15 Oct 2015
An internal review of the initial police investigation into the $1.5 million Citifleet fraud has made several findings, but exactly what they are remain under wraps. Months after the conclusion of the investigation Dunedin police last week released a heavily redacted copy of the review to the Otago Daily Times.
Read more

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *deloitte*, *bachop* or *bidrose* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: eliseblaha.typepad.com – enJOY it by Elise Blaha Cripe [detail]

DCC dirty laundry/fleet cars #LGOIMA

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Related Posts and Comments:
18.9.15 DCC suddenly wakes up! *cough —after fleet car pointers from years back
● 16.9.15 DCC: Know your council ‘chair-leaders’ #pillowtalk [THE EMAILS]
4.8.15 Hundreds of DCC Staff receive fraud detection/prevention training #OMG
21.7.15 DCC: LGOIMA requests for the last month
24.4.15 DCC re Dr Bidrose’s time as most senior Citifleet Manager

Belatedly….
19.9.15 ODT: Information requests irk councillors

The latest salvo came after Cr Lee Vandervis made public an email exchange with Crs Benson-Pope and Richard Thomson, copied to other councillors and staff, earlier this week.

Cr Vandervis did not respond to ODT requests for comment yesterday.

In his emails, published online, he blamed a lack of information coming from council staff for the “tedious” need to resort to Information Act requests.

Biblical proportion…. [thanks RMN]

Matthew 23:23-25
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence….

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr (online)

DCC suddenly wakes up! *cough —after fleet car pointers from years back

Oh wait, this is a new discovery. Pigs what fly.

Limp wrists, institutionalised rip-offs, with yet another trumped up (managerial) job title: “organisational development and performance group manager”.

Photo: RNZ/Ian Telfer

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About 60 council staff had access to council cars to take home, but the review showed many no longer needed to.

### ODT Online Fri, 18 Sep 2015
DCC tightens up on private car use
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council is tightening control of its vehicle fleet after finding dozens of staff have been taking cars home at night for no valid reason. The finding came after a review launched earlier this year which found “ad hoc” processes governing the personal use of council cars by some staff.
Read more

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█ Sample comments dredged up from What if? Dunedin archives (from 36 of 134 pages pertinent to the site moderator’s search, is all….):

Phil
Submitted on 2014/12/30 at 11:49 am

Mick, the investigation brief to Deloitte, as weak as it was, was not limited to Citifleet. Of course Citifleet was the main focus, but the opportunity was given to carry out a general stocktake of DCC internal practices. Many of the internal interviews conducted had no relationship to Citifleet. Bad practices within other departments were identified with the help of staff, and recommendations given. As you say, the value of the report will be in how effectively the recommendations are enforced.

Phil
Submitted on 2014/12/29 at 9:21 pm

Terribly unfair. How will current Assistant department managers be able to get cheap maintenance from DCC contractors on their home air conditioning systems cheaply installed by DCC contractors now ? Or get their kitchen remodelled for half of the market rate ? How are these highly valued public servants supposed to survive if they have to live like normal people ?

I remember a few years ago when a (former) department manager telephoned all the contractors and asked them not to send Christmas gifts into the DCC offices. He offered instead to drive out to each contractor (presumably in a DCC fleet car) and collect the gifts himself. That’s going the extra mile.

Phil
Submitted on 2014/11/18 at 9:22 pm

Still on the list are the remainder of the senior staff who have been identified by Deloitte as being involved in serious and ongoing conflict of interest business dealings. Awarding uncontested contracts to family members with no internal checking, identifying a need for specialist equipment or services within their DCC department, buying the equipment/services privately, and then hiring it back to their own department. Most of the managers identified to date are long term managers with 20 years in the role. It seems that the younger staff elevated to management roles have a higher professional integrity level than their elder colleagues. I suspect a few more early retirements are on the horizon.

Phil
Submitted on 2014/10/30 at 3:43 am

I’m more impressed (or depressed) by the revelation that there are 43 current DCC staff members who earn in excess of $100k a year. Given that there are nowhere near 43 departments within DCC (more like half that number) that means that ridiculous salaries are not merely confined to heads of departments.

Phil
Submitted on 2014/08/22 at 6:17 pm

Cars, the number of vehicles actually required by DCC is being included in the process. Specifically mentioned in the internal memo released to staff by the CEO today was the private use of DCC vehicles by staff, which is a positive and overdue move. DCC assets are no longer available for direct purchase by staff or elected officials. Any and all potential conflicts of interest are now required to be formally registered. I think that Sue Bidrose is handling this as well as anyone faced with such a situation could. She could not have foreseen this mess. It was interesting in discussions last night that one of the few people within the organisation who spanned the entire fraud period, which pre dates Brent Bachop, was Athol. How did he miss this, given that he had the finance portfolio the whole time ? Not suggesting that Athol is involved but when you are talking about $1.5m, the buck has to stop somewhere.

Phil
Submitted on 2014/08/09 at 10:27 am

Well there’s an interesting development. In 2006, former DCC Group Manager, Grant Strang, buys a 1996 Hyundai Sonata for $2,500 from City Fleet. Hands a “Non Negotiable” stamped cheque to DCC Finance Department for said amount, and receives a receipt.

I have a couple problems with this story. In 2006 I was also working at the DCC. I was employed in a managerial role in the Civic Centre building although, to be fair, not at the level that Grant Strang was employed. But enough to see a few things. In 2006, Grant Strang ordered a $5,000 office chair for his room. I know this because I was shown the receipt by the 2 staff members who took delivery of the chair. I even took a spin in it. If you see a $5,000 office chair, you simply have to know what it feels like. Feels pretty good, I have to say. Anyway, the same man who thought he deserved a $5,000 chair, thought it was a good idea to buy a 10 year old Hyundai. Not knocking Hyundais, but sound like the same person ? We’ll get back to that.

As I said, I worked in the Civic Centre building in 2006. In the course of my duties, I had cause to be in the City Fleet garage about 4 times a week. For a few years either side of 2006. Most often I was there to make use of a City Fleet vehicle. Pretty uneventful stuff like going grocery shopping, taking the dog to the vet, picking up kids from school. Typical car pool activities. But one observation from that time bugged me today. Bugged me enough to contact a few of my former DCC colleagues. We all came to the same conclusion. In all our trips out in City Fleet vehicles, over all our years combined, not one of us could recall ever driving a fleet vehicle that was 10 years old. We struggled, in fact, to think of an instance when we drove a fleet vehicle that was more than 5 years old. How many companies find it economical to have 10 year old cars in their fleets ? Especially a company with the discount buying power like DCC. Sure, we had driven Hyundais, but they were all new models. We could only come up with one Sonata during that period and that was a car which, for some weird reason, was especially reserved for use only by one Rodney Bryant. We won’t get into that one.

The cheque. First up, how many people write cheques in this age of electronic bank transfers ? To the same company that you work for. In the same building. Grant Strang’s office was on the second floor of the Civic Centre building in 2006. Finance lived on the third floor. According to Grant Strang, he walked up one flight of stairs and delivered them a cheque for $2,500. He was so worried about the 15 metre internal journey, and so mistrusting of the staff in the Finance Department of the same company in which he was a senior manager, that he felt the need to cross the cheque as Non Negotiable. Seriously ? I worked probably 50m away from Finance and I knew them all by first name.

Now, I have no doubt that Grant Strang wrote a cheque for $2,500 and gave it to DCC Finance Department. And I have no doubt that he received a receipt for that $2,500 as the payment for a 1996 Hyundai Sonata. I’m sure that the financial paperwork is very clean and deliberate. My question is, what car did he drive away in that day ?

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{Link: http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/312126/cars-staff-and-councillor -Eds}

Phil
Submitted on 2014/06/26 at 7:11 pm

I’m trying to get my head around the numbers as well. I’m assuming that the Citifleet stocks include for the likes of the Water Dept, Library buses etc. From memory there are about 300 people working in the Civic Centre, so 200 vehicles is a hell of a lot to service just the Civic Centre. Some vehicles were permanently reserved for particular people, but even so.

The issue of “take home” vehicles has always annoyed me. The Chief Building Inspector does not need to take a DCC car home every night. He is not on the roster for after hours call-outs. Neither is the head of the Environmental Health department. On the subject of call-outs themselves, I would say that 80% of those who work in the Civic Centre live no more than a 10 to 15 minute drive from their home. Should they be required to attend something out of hours, it is not unreasonable to expect them to drive their own car to the Civic Centre, park it in the Civic Centre garage, and then take out a DCC car. It’s not a Health and Safety issue as they use private transport to get to their place of work every day. There is absolutely no reason why the car pool needs to get emptied out at 5pm every evening. Part of the problem, I believe, is that the majority of vehicles are unmarked. People would be far less likely to park up in the Countdown carpark on a Saturday evening if there was a thumping great DCC logo painted on the side.

Phil
Submitted on 2012/07/16 at 5:42 am

If Paul Orders is hunting for more suggestions, he can take a look at the ridiculous “retention” money being paid to lower and middle DCC managers over and above their listed salary. Bumping up the gross income to between 30 and 50% higher than the salary listed for them. No staff member in the DCC is that indispensable. Likewise to the staff members receiving 105% of their graded salary, year after year, supposedly reserved for a “one off action”. This practice has been going on for so long now that staff are expecting it as a right.

Phil
Submitted on 2012/07/13 at 9:01 am

Speaking of DCC and transport, I heard a big grizzle from inside the hallowed halls a couple of days ago. Paul Orders’ latest economy drive (pardon the pun) effort has been to put the brakes (another goody) on the practice of staff routinely taking home DCC cars at night. Good on you, Paul, and not a day too soon. A bouquet from me. This blatant abuse used to annoy the hell out of me. 50 cars in the DCC car pool that would disappear at 5pm every evening. You would get mowed down if you dared walk in front of the garage driveway at 30 seconds past 5pm. The majority of cars are now unmarked (big mistake), removing the ability to monitor private usage of publicly funded vehicles. They should all be marked. The only area potentially requiring stealth is noise control, and that’s carried out by private contractors (in their own MARKED vehicles, I might add). There is no reason why staff members need to take DCC cars home at night and weekends. 99.9% of the staff are not on a 24 hour callout. Of those who might be called out (once every 6 months), the majority live no more than 15 minutes from the DCC garage. They can easily drive to the Octagon and collect a DCC car if they need. The Chief Building Inspector does not need a DCC 4wd car parked up in his Wakari driveway every night. No one from the I.T. department should be driving to and from Fairfield to work in a DCC car. City Property staff do not need free undercover carparks 2 minutes from the Octagon. Rodney Bryant did not need a dedicated unmarked DCC car which no other staff member was allowed to use (although that may have been a passive smoking Health and Safety issue to protect the rest of the staff). My alltime favourite was the Environmental Health Officer who used to schedule his restaurant inspections for 8am every day (every day), so that he would “have” to take a DCC car home the night before. It’s childish behaviour and good on the CEO for doing what these supposed professionals should have had the decency to do themselves.

et cetera

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet: Police finishing final report

### ODT Online Wed, 16 Sep 2015
Final Citifleet fraud report not finished
By Chris Morris
Dunedin police are still working to finalise a report into the $1.5 million Citifleet fraud, despite announcing in June no charges would be laid, it has been confirmed. The development came as it was confirmed an earlier police report into the Dunedin City Council’s long-running fraud was released to media despite internal concerns from senior police it was out of date, emails showed.
Read more

● The Department of Internal Affairs was keeping a close eye on the Dunedin City Council’s handling of the Citifleet fraud investigation, documents show. (ODT)

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *bachop*, *bidrose* or *vandervis* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet: Council steered off SFO investigation

Link received.
Mon, 7 Sep 2015 at 9:47 p.m.

█ Message: Spot the difference – a Maori group gets the SFO while Dunedin Ratepayers get a lowly detective.

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### NZ Herald Online 3:59 PM Monday Sep 7, 2015
Tertiary funding probe: SFO called in as centre agrees to pay back $7.5 million
By Steve Deane
A senior manager is dead and a Serious Fraud Office investigation has been launched following a probe into an agricultural college that uncovered millions of dollars of unjustified taxpayer funding.
The results of a Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) investigation into funding irregularities at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre were released this afternoon following investigations by the Herald.
Taratahi’s former chief executive, Dr Donovan Wearing, died suddenly in January – three months after the TEC confirmed it was undertaking a ‘targeted review’ of the organisation.
The Herald has been told Dr Wearing addressed staff at the sprawling campus just outside Masterton about the investigation on January 21. The 52-year-old father of six was later found in a critical condition in a shed on campus grounds. He was taken to Wellington Hospital where he died at 10.30pm.
Dr Wearing’s death has been referred to the coroner.
Read more

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *deloitte*, *vandervis*, *detectives* and *bidrose* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Fairfax Media: Police release Citifleet investigation report

Updated post
Wed, 12 Aug 2015 at 4:50 p.m.

██ CITIFLEET POLICE REPORT (PDF, 4.41 MB) —via Fairfax Media

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The detective, who has since left the police force, also noted the council did not supply Bachop’s credit card or fuel card statements as requested.

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated 13:08, August 12 2015
Police raised possibility of others involved in Dunedin City Council Citifleet fraud
By Hamish McNeilly
It had been billed as the work of a sole suspect, but a police file into the investigation of the theft of 152 cars from the Dunedin City Council fingers the “highly suspicious” activity of another unnamed person. Police have released to Fairfax Media their investigation report into the Citifleet fraud.
Read more

Previous articles:
18.12.14 Stuff: Car fraud pinned on dead man
3.6.14 Stuff: Dunedin council unit under scrutiny

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[screenshot – click to enlarge]

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *conduct* and *vandervis* in the search box at right.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC AMAZE —oh, more fraud

DCC CULTURE OF ENTITLEMENT
‘Enormously disappointing’ —And Enormously Expected.
‘ONE MAN’ did it. An outright fairytale.
DOLLY didn’t, either. More to come !!

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### ODT Online Mon, 10 Aug 2015
Further cases of fraud at council
By Chris Morris
The Dunedin City Council says the discovery of five more examples of fraud and theft inside the organisation is “enormously” disappointing. […] Details of the smaller incidents emerged last week, in response to Otago Daily Times questions, a year after the discovery of the Citifleet fraud.
Read more

█ ODT blocks public comments to this item.

ODT 10.8.15 [Source: DCC]

[screenshot]

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Related Posts and Comments:
7.8.15 MOU DCC and TCFT New Aquatic Facility #MosgielPool
4.8.15 Hundreds of DCC Staff receive fraud detection/prevention training
28.7.15 DCC tender fraud includes Citifleet —not for discussion
23.7.15 Publicise: laudafinem.com
207.15 Noble property subdivision —DELTA #LGOIMA
13.7.15 Jeff Dickie: Edinburgh tough, Dunedin (DUD)
4.7.15 DCC Citifleet, [a] Deloitte report leaked
25.6.15 DCC Citifleet COVERUP #screwy
17.6.15 Citifleet: ‘Checkpoint’ interviews Dave Cull
4.5.15 Cr Lee Vandervis: Why I continue to vote. #email
1.5.15 Cr Vandervis unlikely to quit several missions #coverup #naturaljustice
24.3.15 Noble property subdivision —DELTA
23.3.15 Noble property subdivision: “Denials suggest that we have not learned.”
17.3.15 DCC —Delta, Jacks Point Luggate II….
3.1.15 DCC: Street talk NEVER HAPPENED
28.4.15 Today at DCC in pictures
24.4.15 DCC re Dr Bidrose’s time as most senior Citifleet Manager
23.4.15 DCC severely FAILS councillor #naturaljustice #contempt
18.3.15 Lee Vandervis releases emails #Citifleet investigation
13.3.15 Cr Vandervis: LGOIMA request – Citifleet … Deloitte Report
24.12.14 Dunedin: Watching the detectives
1.12.14 Stadium Review: LGOIMA request and 2009 Town Hall speeches
18.12.14 DCC: Deloitte report released on Citifleet
21.11.14 Stadium Review: Mayor Cull exposed
19.11.14 Forsyth Barr Stadium Review
1.9.14 DCC Fraud: Further official information in reply to Cr Vandervis
30.8.14 DCC Fraud: Cr Vandervis … urgent need for facts and record to be public
27.8.14 DCC whitewash on serious fraud, steals democracy from citizens
22.8.14 DCC: Deloitte report referred to the police #Citifleet
3.7.14 Stuff: Alleged vehicle fraud at DCC
1.7.14 DCC: Far-reaching fraud investigation Citifleet
28.5.14 DCC: Audit and risk subcommittee
20.3.14 Delta: Report from Office of the Auditor-General
19.3.14 ORFU: Black-tie dinner, theft or fraud?
26.2.14 DCC: New audit and risk subcommittee a little too late !!
14.2.14 DCC: Broadband AND bicycles #fraudband speed
1.12.13 Secret Commissions Act aka ‘Backhanders Law’

█ For more, enter the terms *deloitte*, *citifleet*, *fraud*, *conduct*, *vandervis*, *delta*, *orfu* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC tender fraud includes Citifleet —not for discussion

Mayor Cull is papering over cracks.

QUESTION
Where did the Deloitte report on Citifleet disappear to after it was leaked to ODT? Somewhere deep in a mud tank, at South Dunedin?
Deloitte produced three Citifleet reports; at least two of these show people are liable (present tense) for prosecution.

Where has ODT been to not take the cover off said blocked mud tank.

What makes Dunedin Police so reluctant to prosecute.

Cull and Bidrose “say” just one man, Bachop, is guilty of the +$1.5million Citifleet fraud, which included +152 fleet vehicles lost as well as trade in tyres and parts, and vehicle service contracts (tenders, black market, yawn)….

No wonder Deloitte investigator Kyle Cameron is pissed off at DCC.
No prosecutions ~!!

But back to Monday’s thrashing on tender fraud.
Cr Vandervis has already provided enough evidence to DCC officials, in non public, to add to or start investigations. They don’t want to know.
This is local government at Dunedin, refusing transparency and accountability.

—

Cr Vandervis hit back, telling the meeting he had provided other evidence to Mr Cull in confidence in the past, and could produce it publicly at the meeting, if needed.

### ODT Online Tue, 28 Jul 2015
Vandervis told to produce ‘evidence’
By Chris Morris
Mayor Dave Cull and Cr Lee Vandervis locked horns yesterday after the latter claimed to have “plenty of evidence” of tender fraud involving the council. The comment, as councillors at yesterday’s full council meeting signed off on a new sensitive expenditure policy, prompted a point of order from Cr Jinty MacTavish, who labelled his comment “disrespectful” and challenged him to produce evidence.
Read more

—

█ Report – Council – 27/07/2015 (PDF, 164.6 KB)
Sensitive Expenditure Policy and Procedures

The new policy covered everything from travel and accommodation to entertainment and hospitality, but not contracts and tendering, which Cr Vandervis wanted included as well. (ODT)

About cemetery contracts….

5.3.15 ODT: Praise for council from outgoing manager

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet, [a] Deloitte report leaked

WHY WASN’T THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE CALLED IN RIGHT FROM THE VERY START WHEN CR LEE VANDERVIS ALERTED FORMER DCC CHIEF EXECUTIVE PAUL ORDERS TO CAR FRAUD ???

Then too, think of all the people who had access to the Deloitte reports (plural) – more specifically those without access to the digitised data report. That ‘narrows’ the field of leaks to Deloitte itself, NZ Police, private investigators, counsel, privileged council staff, privileged mayor and (some) councillors, those council staff whose lawyers worked on their ‘resignations’ / exit packages….
Who else? A veritable feast.

No-one named in the ODT today hasn’t been mentioned at What if? posts and comments previously – this includes the names of the car companies.

—

### ODT Online Sat, 4 Jul 2015
Questions still unanswered
By Chris Morris
[…] even after reading Deloitte’s full “Project Lewis” investigation report – the Otago Daily Times was leaked a copy – there are still many unanswered questions … [The report] named members of three Dunedin families who, together, bought dozens of council-owned cars … Those names included Wayne McFadyen, Destry Duff and Shayne Perkins and members of their extended families, who between them bought 42 vehicles, Deloitte found.
Read more

****

Anngow Motors was sold in 2007 to Armstrong Mazda, which was, in turn, sold to Dunedin City Motors in 2009.

### ODT Online Sat, 4 Jul 2015
Long list of car deals
By Chris Morris
Council cars bought and sold within days, and handfuls of cash that disappeared without trace are detailed in Deloitte’s full report into the $1.5 million Citifleet fraud. The report outlines a long list of transactions between former Citifleet team leader Brent Bachop, private buyers and Dunedin car dealers dating back more than a decade.
Read more

****

“Mr Bachop or Mr McFadyen kept a significant proportion of the sale proceeds for these vehicles,” the [Deloitte] report said.

### ODT Online Sat, 4 Jul 2015
Nothing to hide, says car buyer
By Chris Morris
Wayne “Tubby” McFadyen says he has nothing to hide. Instead, the man identified as one of the main buyers of Citifleet vehicles says the Dunedin City Council should be looking “in the mirror” if it wants to point the finger. “If there’s anyone to blame, it all falls on their heads too. They can blame everyone else for buying vehicles and whatever they want to do, but at the end of the day the buck stops with them.”
Read more

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *conduct* and *vandervis* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet COVERUP #screwy

Police have decided no-one will be charged after the Citifleet investigation. –39 Dunedin News

Read tomorrow’s Otago Daily Times.

—

Only +152 city council fleet vehicles went west, car parts, tyres, kickback auto services, and just one man died.

HE DID IT. Ain’t it cosy.

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *bachop*, *bidrose* or *vandervis* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Citifleet: ‘Checkpoint’ interviews Dave Cull

### radionz.co.nz Thu, 18 Dec 2014
Checkpoint with Simon Mercep
Report reveals how car manager ripped off Dunedin council
17:20 An investigation into the Dunedin City Council’s missing cars has named Citifleet team leader Brent Bachop (bok-ip) as the man at the heart of the one and a half million dollar fraud. A Deloitte report released this afternoon details how he transferred vehicles to his name and sold them on, including some to fellow staff and councillors. It slams the council for not detecting the fraud sooner. Brent Bachop died suddenly in May. With us now is Dunedin’s mayor Dave Cull.
Audio | Download: Ogg MP3 ( 4′ 21″ )

—

Received from Lee Vandervis
Tue, 16 Jun 2015 at 10:00 p.m.

Thank you for this audio. In it Mayor Cull says that none of the managers in charge at the time of the Citifleet frauds are still at the DCC. Has he forgotten that Dr Bidrose is still there?

Mayor Cull also says that the frauds were discovered and investigated in the last year. Has he forgotten that I had discovered and was investigating Citifleet frauds since 2011, and that senior staff were prompted by me to investigate then but apparently allowed themselves to be fobbed off by the most superficial denials from some of the perpetrators themselves?

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *bachop*, *bidrose* or *vandervis* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Tony Avery is “somebody’s” pet #gigatown lapdog

Infrastructure and Networks General Manager Tony Avery resigned from Dunedin City Council on 28 August 2014, falling on his sword as a result of the Citifleet/Citipark fraud —something, the Council conveniently brushes under its carpet with ALL BLAME politically attaching (for insurance purposes) to the deceased former Citifleet manager Brent Bachop. Other council staff were clearly involved; one person alone does not dispose of 152+ cars, and related council assets. So Mr Avery, WENT…. But not really.
With all the scandal and corruption appearing, the Council supportively, extended “help” and salary repeatedly to Mr Avery, after initial news that he would work through to Christmas. Then, on Saturday 31 January the Council revealed that: “He would continue working fulltime, assisting [Ruth] Stokes and helping with the transition on key projects, until March 31, [Sue] Bidrose said.” (ODT 1.2.15).

But the latest DCC blinder:

“Tony Avery’s new gig (pun intended)
Helping Gigatown Dunedin secure sources of funding…”

Updated post 16.4.16
15.5.15 ODT: City readies to take advantage of Gigatown
Last month, [the Digital Community Trust] employed former Dunedin City Council infrastructure and networks general manager Tony Avery as interim project manager.

DCC Pets. Pet Projects. NO COUNCIL SHAME.
How do we define corruption, again.

—

Related Post and Comments:
12.1.15 Traffic lights: Anzac Avenue/Frederick Street intersection
29.12.14 DCC gets QLDC talent…. the weft and warp deviously weaves
6.11.14 DCC pals up with Chorus —gigatown and telecoms cabinets
9.10.14 DCC’s Daaave at university bollard, in his twilight
28.8.14 DCC: Tony Avery resigns
5.6.14 DCC Transport Strategy and Riccarton Road
22.5.14 DCC Transportation Planning —ANOTHER consultation disaster
24.4.14 DCC promotes Riccarton Rd as sole heavy traffic bypass
29.10.13 DCC (EDU) invents new job! —Gigatown/Digital Office
20.11.12 DCC vs Anzide Properties decision: The road “has no legal basis”

█ For more, enter the terms *citifleet*, *sh88*, *anzide*, *cycle*, *parking* or *riccarton* in the search box at right.

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

*Image: Tony Avery tweaked by whatifdunedin

DCC gets QLDC talent…. the weft and warp deviously weaves

Notice McLauchlan has been well immersed in affairs of the QLDC, and especially now under Feeley’s leadership (fox chickens, SCF).

“….the QLDC audit and risk committee, chaired by Institute of Directors president Stuart McLauchlan, of Dunedin, recommended a sensitive expenditure policy be adopted in the wake of the Citifleet fraud….”
ODT 20.12.14

Delta. ORFU. Stadium land purchases. [list goes on, insider trading, etc]

—

Ruth Stokes is like trading partners, house keys in the goldfish bowl (spot any car keys?). Terminology, eh? Congratulations DCC, a blonde from Eiontown —on Dunedin, “the great small city”, yarp…. already cued to tow the DCC party line. Likes the word STAKEHOLDERS.

—

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
DCC appoints new General Manager

This item was published on 24 Dec 2014

Ruth Stokes has been appointed to the position of Infrastructure and Networks General Manager. She brings with her experience in senior policy development, planning and project management and has worked in both the public and private sectors. DCC Chief Executive Dr Sue Bidrose says she’s very pleased to announce Mrs Stokes appointment. “Ruth is a successful general manager with a financial background, strong public service values and a reputation for delivering. Her mix of skills will be an asset to the DCC.”

Mrs Stokes will take on the responsibilities of departing General Manager Tony Avery.

Mrs Stokes is the General Manager Operations for the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC). She has been in that role for the past 16 months and Chief Executive Lakes Leisure (a council controlled organisation) prior to that. Before moving to Queenstown she worked at Auckland Council, Westpac and KPMG in various roles. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and a Post Graduate Certificate in public management from Victoria University of Wellington. Mrs Stokes has a background in infrastructure planning, development, recreation, parks, and aquatics.

“The way these assets and facilities are managed often make a major difference to the perception of a city. I think the job is a terrific opportunity to work as part of Council’s leadership team to help Dunedin become the great small city it strives to be.”

She has enjoyed her time in Queenstown, and will stay in touch with her friends and colleagues. “But I am really looking forward to moving to Dunedin and experiencing the advantages the city has to offer. I am keen to meet the DCC leadership team, the Councillors, the stakeholders and the staff. I think it is great going into a Long Term Plan year, as it gives me the opportunity to hear about what the community wants to achieve over the next 10 years.” Getting to know people and forming a detailed understanding of the role will be her first focus. Mrs Stokes will start at the DCC in February. Contact Dr Sue Bidrose, DCC Chief Executive Officer on 477 4000. DCC Link

● ODT: New DCC manager

—

New Year turkey structure (can add names if anyone has been missed off):
Sue Bidrose, Chief Executive. Grant McKenzie, Group Chief Financial Officer. Sandy Graham, Group Manager Corporate Services. Bernie Hawke, Group Manager Arts and Culture. Ruth Stokes, General Manager Infrastructure and Networks. Simon Pickford, General Manager Services and Development.

Basters: [John Christie, Director Enterprise Dunedin] [Kevin Taylor, Manager City Property] [Anna Johnston, Manager City Development]….

—

Related Posts and Comments:
25.12.14 Daaave stole Christmas from #DUD
24.12.14 Dunedin: Watching the detectives
23.12.14 Our Leaders: if commonalities
19.12.14 DCC: Limited Citifleet investigation about insurance
19.12.14 Vandervis: Deloitte and Police Citifleet investigations
19.12.14 DCC Citifleet by email . . . . woops! (another timeline proof)
● 18.12.14 DCC: Deloitte report released on Citifleet #whitewash
22.11.14 ODT puffery for stadium rousing ? [profiling Sue Bidrose]
21.11.14 Stadium Review: Mayor Cull exposed
● 19.11.14 Forsyth Barr Stadium Review
24.10.14 DCC Citifleet, more revelations….
21.10.14 DCC Citifleet, undetectable….
13.10.14 DCC: Consulting the Community
● 19.9.14 Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem to launch post-election inquiry
8.9.14 Jim Harland and the stadium MESS
3.9.14 Stuff: Dunedin council CEO won’t resign
1.9.14 DCC Fraud: Further official information in reply to Cr Vandervis
30.8.14 DCC Fraud: Cr Vandervis states urgent need for facts….
● 28.8.14 DCC: Tony Avery resigns
27.8.14 DCC whitewash on serious fraud, steals democracy from citizens
26.8.14 DCC: Forensics for kids
23.8.14 DCC public finance forum 12.8.14 (ten slides)
22.8.14 DCC: Deloitte report referred to the police #Citifleet
6.8.14 DCC tightens policy + Auditor-General’s facetious comments
3.7.14 Stuff: Alleged vehicle fraud at DCC
1.7.14 DCC: Far-reaching fraud investigation Citifleet
● 18.6.14 Crowe Horwath Report (May 2014) – Review of DVML Expenses
3.6.14 DCC unit under investigation
2.5.14 DCC $tar-ship enterprise
28.4.14 DCC loses City Property manager in restructuring
● 20.3.14 Delta: Report from Office of the Auditor-General
24.1.14 Stadium: It came to pass…
28.12.13 Sue Bidrose, DCC Chief Executive
18.11.13 DCC: New chief executive
7.2.12 DCC ‘money go round’ embedded

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Vandervis: Deloitte and Police Citifleet investigations

Received from Lee Vandervis
Fri, 19 Dec 2014 at 11:54 a.m.

Deloitte and Police Citifleet Investigations – information I believe should be public in the public interest.

Message: I have had verbal and email responses from both CEO Bidrose and the Police denying that the scope of the Police investigation had been limited to missing or inappropriately sold DCC vehicles. These responses remain confidential currently because of other content they contain.
The fact remains that the investigating officer Detective Matthew Preece was adamant when he interviewed me on what I understood to be the last week of his investigation that he was not able to pursue my concerns of wider fraud other than missing vehicles, such as allegations regarding DCC contracts, and credit card and other financial spending fraud, because the complaint laid related just to missing vehicles.
Even more concerning was Detective Preece’s assertion to me that ‘all those that had acquired DCC vehicles needed to do, was to say that they understood Mr Bachop had the authority to dispose of them’ for them not to be liable for receiving or criminal prosecution. Detective Preece said that all those he had interviewed who had acquired DCC vehicles had said just that.

My worst fears that the tragic death of Mr Bachop would not be used to fully investigate the wider implications of a DCC staff self-serving culture were confirmed by the very limited scope of the belated Police investigation as relayed to me by Detective Preece. I wrote the following email to CEO Bidrose, Sandy Graham head of Governance, and Detective Mathew Preece that night. No demurring or other response to the email below has been received from Detective Preece.

Regards,
Cr. Vandervis

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:57:31 +1300
To: Sue Bidrose [DCC], Sandy Graham [DCC], Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Police Citifleet Investigation
Subject: Police Citifleet Investigation

Dear Sue,

An hour and a half spent with Detective Matthew Preece and another Policeman called Regan has left me with deep concerns regarding the Police Citifleet investigation.
Mr Preece has informed me that the scope of his investigation has been limited by the complaint the DCC has made to the Police, and that this complaint only concerns missing or inappropriately sold DCC vehicles.

Mr Preece says that because Police have not had a complaint from you or the DCC regarding;
– fraudulent Citifleet tender processes,
– fraudulent Citifleet tyre supply contracts,
– fraudulent Citifleet maintenance contracts
– fraudulent use of DCC Citifleet vehicle fuel
– fraudulent DCC accounting of Citifleet credit cards and other payment methods used and Citifleet managerial oversight
– and fraudulent use and conversion of DCC Citifleet vehicles [eg the conversion of a DCC-owned vehicle by Mrs Bachop]

and that consequently none of these fraud areas is being investigated!

Mr Preece did say that if you as CEO were to request that he broaden his investigation to include these other areas and not just the missing cars, that he would broaden his enquiry to include them. He insisted that he would have to have a broadened complaint from you as CEO for this to happen, and implied that a complaint from me as a City Councillor would not be enough to act on.

I have highlighted to Preece and Regan the urgent need to use the Citifleet manager’s tragic death to investigate and prosecute all Citifleet fraud areas, as a failure to do so will result in the loss of an unprecedented opportunity to clean out the culture of entitlement at Citifleet and in other DCC departments.

Can you please with urgency broaden the DCC complaint to include the 6 areas of potential Citifleet fraud listed above, so that Mr Reece can broaden his enquiry to include them.

Can you please also now with urgency, forward to me all instructions to Deloitte regarding the Citifleet investigation as previously requested in my email of 26/10/14 as below.

Is it possible to meet with you at any time tomorrow at your convenience to learn whether you have broadened the DCC Police complaint or not?

Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

—

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 18:23:41 +1300
To: Sue Bidrose [DCC], Sandy Graham [DCC]
Conversation: LGOIMA requests
Subject: LGOIMA requests

Hi Sue,
Further to my verbal requests of a week or two ago please forward copies of all original correspondence and or other direction given to Deloittes in regard to their investigation of Citifleet.
I wish to have the original brief stating the terms of reference, the subsequent brief where the investigation needed to be extended, and any other direction written or otherwise given to Deloittes regarding the Citifleet investigation.
I am deeply disturbed by what I have seen in parts of the investigation conclusions appearing without covering page or any details identifying them as parts of the Deloitte findings in non-public parts of the Audit and Risk subcommittee meetings.
I note a severe slowing on responses to my recent LGOIMA requests, and hope this has been a temporary frustration.
Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet by email . . . . woops! (another timeline proof)

Received from Lee Vandervis
Thu, 18 Dec at 11:35 p.m.

Message: I have spoken with Michael Allan at Radio NZ tonight. I have also sent him a selection of emails from 2011, which I also sent to Kyle Cameron of Deloitte and to Mathew Preece of the Dunedin Police and which I will now copy to you.

[five threads follow]

I —Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:30:47 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:27:17 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:21:24 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:56:17 +1200
To: Sandy Graham [DCC]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: Re: Info re Brent Bachop
G’day Sandy,
Thank you for the limited response you have given me to below. I still hope to get 2007, 2008 and 2009 credit card spending details as per those already provided for 2010.
Regarding “spending by Brent Bachop, especially September 2007. I wish to have the details confirmed on a purchase of Falken tyres size 195/65-15 as fitted to an Alfa Romeo.” is it possible that these tyres may have been paid for by some other method that still ended up on the ratepayers’ account? Please advise if I have to discover the registration plate number of the particular Alfa Romeo to get the information on who paid for this set of tyres.
Re purchase of Mazda Bounty vehicle that it is alleged Mr Bachop sold to himself, surely complete information on this type of transaction must be on Council records?
Looking forward,
Lee

On 14/10/11 10:21 PM, “Lee Vandervis” wrote:
Hi Sandy,
Sorry to keep coming back with this, but the info required has been difficult to tease out.
Thank you for 2010 DCC credit card spending list.
I am now looking for 2007 credit card spending by Brent Bachop, especially September 2007. I wish to have the details confirmed on a purchase of Falken tyres size 195/65-15 as fitted to an Alfa Romeo.
Could you also forward 2008 and 2009 credit card spending.
Also of interest is the sales, sale prices and sold-to information on the sales of all Mazda Bounty vehicles, especially one that Mr Bachop allegedly sold to himself.
Sorry I have no dates for this, but the vehicle type, Mazda Bounty should hopefully be enough to establish DCC ownership and subsequent disposal.
Re DCC vehicle disposals, can you confirm which business or businesses the DCC disposes of fleet vehicles through currently, and which businesses have been used in the last 5 years.
In case you are wondering, these info requests are not fishing expeditions but responses to repeated allegations form a number of Dunedin businesses, many focused on Mr Bachop.
I have had no personal dealings with Mr Bachop and do not even know what he looks like.
Kind regards,
Lee
—— End of Forwarded Message

II —Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:29:22 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:27:41 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:15:31 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Info re Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Info re Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Sandy Graham [DCC]
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:02:33 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: RE: Info re Brent Bachop
Dear Lee
Just an update on this.
I should have the purchase card info this afternoon and will flick it onto you.
Sandy

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: Friday, 14 October 2011 11:21 p.m.
To: Sandy Graham
Subject: Info re Brent Bachop
Hi Sandy,
Sorry to keep coming back with this, but the info required has been difficult to tease out.
Thank you for 2010 DCC credit card spending list.
I am now looking for 2007 credit card spending by Brent Bachop, especially September 2007. I wish to have the details confirmed on a purchase of Falken tyres size 195/65-15 as fitted to an Alfa Romeo.
Could you also forward 2008 and 2009 credit card spending.
Also of interest is the sales, sale prices and sold-to information on the sales of all Mazda Bounty vehicles, especially one that Mr Bachop allegedly sold to himself.
Sorry I have no dates for this, but the vehicle type, Mazda Bounty should hopefully be enough to establish DCC ownership and subsequent disposal.
Re DCC vehicle disposals, can you confirm which business or businesses the DCC disposes of fleet vehicles through currently, and which businesses have been used in the last 5 years.
In case you are wondering, these info requests are not fishing expeditions but responses to repeated allegations form [sic] a number of Dunedin businesses, many focused on Mr Bachop.
I have had no personal dealings with Mr Bachop and do not even know what he looks like.
Kind regards,
Lee
—— End of Forwarded Message

III —Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:27:51 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:28:26 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:11:32 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Kevin Thompson [DCC]
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:55:33 +1200
To: Lee Vandervis
Cc: Brent Bachop [DCC]
Subject: FW: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Good afternoon.
At the Finance & Strategy Meeting this afternoon I was incorrect in saying we go out to tender for the supply of tyres — as stated below we work through the GSB to get the best discounted rate — my apologies for putting you wrong on this point.
At the time I was thinking of our tendering process for the mtce and servicing of the vehicles which is going out for tender next year.
If you would like to further discuss this please give me a call.
regards,
Kevin

—–Original Message—–
From: Brent Bachop [DCC]
Sent: Monday, 26 June 2006 4:31 p.m.
To: Kevin Thompson [DCC]
Subject: Councillor Vandervis question about tyres
Kevin
In answer to the queries you had from Councillor Vandervis about the purchase of tyres.
Citifleet spend under $50,000 annually so we are not required to go to tender.
All tyres are purchased locally from Bridgestone NZ (trading as Firestone) through GSB Supply Corp (formally the Government Stores Board) giving us nation wide buying power so we get our tyres and repairs at a heavily discounted rate.
Most large Council’s and the likes of the Police etc use GSB not only for tyres but fuel as well as do we.
We have in the past used other suppliers but none of them could match the service and buying power we get through GSB.
I have looked into using other suppliers as recently as last Friday and after working through this issue with the Expenditure Manager in the Finance department we both came to same conclusion that Firestone is the best option for us at this point in time.
All tyres purchased are done so using our Fleetcard system.
Let me know if you need any more info.
Brent
—— End of Forwarded Message

IV —Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:26:31 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:29:10 +1300
To: Matthew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:14:44 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Vivienne Harvey [DCC]
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:17:33 +1300
To: Paul Orders [DCC], Lee Vandervis
Subject: RE: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Hi Lee
I have checked the diary for 30 November and Paul can fit a meeting in with Turners and yourself at 11.00 am that day or 1.00 pm. Due to the Community Development Committee at 2.00 pm that day and a Maori Participation Working Party meeting at 5.00 pm there is no other time in the afternoon.
Who else do you want in attendance at the meeting?
Thanks
Vivienne

From: Paul Orders
Sent: Friday, 11 November 2011 6:38 a.m.
To: Vivienne Harvey
Subject: Fwd: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Can we try to accommodate something on this.
Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:
From: Lee Vandervis
Date: 10 November 2011 11:40:00 AM NZDT
To: Paul Orders [DCC]
Cc: Shane Gall [Turners]
Subject: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Dear Paul,
Further to my more general email this morning about building partnerships, Dunedin’s largest car auction business has contacted me regarding on-gong [sic] problems trying to do business with the DCC.
Turner’s Auctions big cheese Mr Kachwalla from Auckland will be in Dunedin on the 30th of this month, and was hoping to organise a brief meeting with you and local Turners management on the afternoon of the 30th to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship.
I was hoping to bundle similar issues with other Dunedin business issues with Mr Bachop, but am still awaiting information ex DCC after over a month in order to do this.
Hopefully you will have time on the next Wednesday the 30th to accommodate Turners Management hopes for a meeting.
Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

From: Shane Gall [Turners]
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 14:30:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: FW: Turners
Good Afternoon Lee
Attached below is the response we received from Brent less than one minute after sending the email. After 2 emails & numerous phone calls leaving voice messages I’ve yet to get a response.
Asgar Kachwalla is the national accounts manager, & will be here on the 29th / 30th of this month. So if we could get an appointment to meet with Paul Orders this would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Shane Gall

{{RE: Ute}}
—— End of Forwarded Message

Attachment To Shane Gall’s Email

[Bachop] Another staff turn over, they wonder why their clients cant strike a good relationship.
As received (Sep 2011); date, time and recipient detail lost from email chain (recoverable). -Eds

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That’s great, talk to you soon Peter.
Brent Bachop
Citifleet Team Leader
Dunedin City Council
As received (Sep 2011); date, time and recipient detail lost from email chain (recoverable). -Eds

—

From: Peter Boyle [Turners]
Sent: Thursday, 29 September 2011 3:51 p.m.
To: Brent Bachop
Cc: Shane Gall [Turners]
Subject: RE: Ute

Hi Brent
Jeff has finished up with us as of last week so Shane Gall will be handling this for you. The vehicle has just arrived and once he has given it a look over he will be in touch to discuss your expectations, setting the reserve, etc.
I am the new manager down here and would love to get out and meet you in the near future. Shane will talk to you about setting up a meeting
Kind Regards
Peter Boyle
Branch Manager Otago/Southland

From: Brent Bachop
Sent: Thursday, 29 September 2011 1:37 p.m.
To: Jeff McLean [Turners]
Subject: Ute
Hi Jeff
Ill have a Ford Courier coming out you this afternoon for disposal.
Talk to you soon.
Regards
Brent Bachop
Citifleet Team Leader
Dunedin City Council

—— End of Forwarded Message

V —Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:24:12 +1300
To: Michael Allan [Radio NZ]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:30:38 +1300
To: Mathew Preece [NZ Police]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

From: Lee Vandervis
Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 22:12:36 +1200
To: Kyle Cameron [Deloitte]
Conversation: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Subject: FW: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop

****

—— Forwarded Message
From: Shane Gall [Turners]
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:57:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: RE: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Thank you Lee

From: Lee Vandervis
Sent: Thursday, 10 November 2011 11:40 a.m.
To: Paul Orders
Cc: Shane Gall [Turners]
Subject: Turners Auctions problems encountered trying to deal with DCC and Brent Bachop
Dear Paul,
Further to my more general email this morning about building partnerships, Dunedin’s largest car auction business has contacted me regarding on-gong [sic] problems trying to do business with the DCC.
Turner’s Auctions big cheese Mr Kachwalla from Auckland will be in Dunedin on the 30th of this month, and was hoping to organise a brief meeting with you and local Turners management on the afternoon of the 30th to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship.
I was hoping to bundle similar issues with other Dunedin business issues with Mr Bachop, but am still awaiting information ex DCC after over a month in order to do this.
Hopefully you will have time on the next Wednesday the 30th to accommodate Turners Management hopes for a meeting.
Kind regards,
Cr. Lee Vandervis

From: Shane Gall [Turners]
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 14:30:03 +1300
To: Lee Vandervis
Subject: FW: Turners
Good Afternoon Lee
Attached below is the response we received from Brent less than one minute after sending the email. After 2 emails & numerous phone calls leaving voice messages I’ve yet to get a response.
Asgar Kachwalla is the national accounts manager, & will be here on the 29th / 30th of this month. So if we could get an appointment to meet with Paul Orders this would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards
Shane Gall
—— End of Forwarded Message

—

Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC: Deloitte report released on Citifleet

██ Deloitte Report – redacted copy (PDF, 3.8 MB)
Project Lewis – Investigation Report

Dunedin City Council – Media Release
Deloitte Report Released

This item was published on 18 Dec 2014

The findings of an independent investigation into a fraud at the Dunedin City Council have been released publicly.

DCC Chief Executive Officer Sue Bidrose says, “The Police have advised their investigation is now at a point where the Deloitte report can be released. We have committed to keeping ratepayers informed and can now make the findings of the report public.”

Deloitte was engaged by the DCC in May to launch an investigation after staff identified what appeared to be a discrepancy in the number of Citifleet vehicles when implementing new financial procedures related to DCC assets. The alleged fraud totals more than $1.5 million and centres on the DCC receiving no proceeds from the sale of 152 vehicles from the DCC’s vehicle fleet. A formal complaint was laid with the Police in August following the Deloitte investigation. The Police were asked to investigate any matters arising from the Deloitte report.

Ms Bidrose says she cannot comment on the Police investigation.

Commenting on the Police investigation, Dunedin Clutha Waitaki Area Commander Inspector Jason Guthrie says, “This is a complex series of offending involving the significant misappropriation of DCC assets. There are a number of aspects to the Police investigation and whilst it is well progressed, it will be subject to a final review in the new year.”

The Deloitte report looks at a range of issues, including the ways the fraud was carried out and internal control failings at the DCC. Some parts of the report have been redacted for privacy reasons.

Ms Bidrose says, “The Deloitte report is clear that a single person committed the fraud in a number of different ways over an extended period of time. The fact this could happen was an indictment on our business processes and we have made considerable efforts to improve and modernise these. This work was already underway and was how the fraud was uncovered. Measures have been, and continue to be, taken to make sure the appropriate level of accountability and oversight is in place in the future across the organisation. We are committed to continuing our programme of work to ensure we have best practice across the board.”

[STOP. Who aided, abetted and benefitted from the deals ???]

Ms Bidrose says the DCC has completed all the employment processes identified in the Deloitte report. These relate to a small number of staff, but she will not be discussing individual employment matters in public. The DCC has received a $1 million insurance payment following the Citifleet fraud. The DCC had $1 million fidelity insurance and insurers QBE have paid out the total amount, in two separate payments.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says, “The Council has pushed for more transparency and tighter processes, with the clear aim of becoming a best practice public sector organisation. We totally support the work senior management has been carrying out and the changes which have resulted from this scrutiny.”

Ms Bidrose says a wide range of work has been completed to improve and modernise DCC processes, including:
● The introduction of a new Audit and Risk Subcommittee, with an independent Chair.
● All tenders that are awarded through the DCC Tenders Board are published on the DCC website for greater transparency.
● A central contracts register has been put in place.
● The ‘whistleblower’ policy has been updated.
● A review of fleet card processes and the issuing of cards.

Further work in progress includes:
● The appointment of a dedicated Risk and Internal Audit Manager. This position has been advertised.
● A fraud awareness campaign and training for all staff will begin in the new year.
● A risk management framework, which is almost complete.
● The development of new procurement and tendering processes across the DCC.

█ A copy of the redacted report is available at http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/deloittereport

Background
Citifleet is responsible for the management of all DCC vehicles and the operation of an internal courier service. The fleet includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, vans and various trailers, plant and machinery. There are currently 122 vehicles, but the DCC is in the process of reviewing whether all those vehicles are required.

Contact Graham McKerracher, Communications and Marketing Manager on 027 294 6301. DCC Link

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[screenshot]

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Santa Parade, Dunedin (7 Dec 2014)

A People Day —images by Elizabeth Kerr
The flavour of the Santa Parade for those who couldn’t make it to George Street on Sunday. Following the eight sets of images (lowres only for website use, sampled from 540 frames) there is a link to last year’s photographs. The only disappointment yesterday was that Santa wore dark glasses….Big Mistake, and failed to pin his hat on securely for gusty conditions, it flew off at the best place to get photos, sigh.

Here be young and old, Mayor Cull, the ‘future generations’ stuck with paying for your amazing +$20 million per annum loss-making stadium, Christmas! If they can pay for it.

Congratulations to parade organiser Mark Laughton and the Dunedin Santa Parade Trust for another highly enjoyable and successful event.

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Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

Set 7

Set 8

Octagon concert crowd

█ Santa Parade, Dunedin (1 Dec 2013)

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DCC Citifleet, more revelations….

Dunedin City councillor Lee Vandervis said he alerted council chief executive of the time Paul Orders that the Dunedin branch of Turners was consistently shut out of contracts it sought, mainly for the disposal of used cars in 2011.

### stuff.co.nz Last updated 09:57 24/10/2014
Citifleet ‘stonewalled’ auctioneer firm
By Wilma McKay
A Dunedin city councillor says the council should have investigated its fraught Citifleet unit three years ago, when he expressed concerns that it shut out firms like car auctioneer Turners. Lee Vandervis said that in 2011 he alerted council chief executive of the time Paul Orders that the Dunedin branch of Turners was consistently shut out of contracts it sought, mainly for the disposal of used cars. The city council said in June this year it was investigating practices within its vehicle fleet unit Citifleet.
Unit team leader Brent Bachop had died suddenly in late May. His death has been referred to the coroner.
A subsequent Deloitte investigation, commissioned by the council, unravelled a vast network of alleged fraudulent activity, some with selected car dealers and other individuals, over 11 years, equating to more than a million dollars in lost council revenue. Some of the activity involved profits from the disposal of second hand Citifleet vehicles allegedly being pocketed instead of being paid into council coffers.
Vandervis said he was concerned about Bachop’s business dealings when he was told by Turners and other Dunedin businesses they were having difficulty even engaging with Citifleet. He began pressing Orders on the issue and made a raft of requests for information around Citifleet. Vandervis suggested Orders meet the manager “to attempt to normalise a Turners/DCC business relationship”. Vandervis said Turners’ staff had expressed “long and on-going frustration at trying to deal with Citifleet vehicle disposals”.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr