Why Auckland's draft budget is already controversial

The draft budget for Aotearoa’s super city is already whipping up worries.  The proposal suggests selling the council’s shares in Auckland International Airport, cuts to multiple services, less public events, and a boost in disaster-response spending.   Even with all that, rates would rise by a net average of 5.66 per cent.  So is this the best course of action for Auckland’s council to take? Are these the type of cuts that have the most impact on those already struggling? And is this a budget that is planning for a brighter future for Tāmaki Makaurau?  Today, NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson is on The Front Page to discuss decisions that will shape our largest city for years to come.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoProducers: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy FoxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.