A release from the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance last week slammed ATEED as ‘completely out of touch with the economic reality of Aucklanders’ after the agency posted a job advertisement for a newly created role: a ‘Digital Content Specialist’.
“ATEED should be freezing staff hiring and laying people off, not creating brand new roles,” says Ratepayers’ Alliance spokeswoman Jo Holmes. "While Mr Goff has publicly stated that the Council had implemented a freeze on recruitment — it appears ATEED never got the memo.”
“ATEED’s key job is events and tourism promotion,” says Jo.
“Both of those roles are practically redundant right now. Any private company would be laying people off, not hiring even more.”
However, ATEED chief executive Nick Hill says the role is necessary.
“As Auckland’s economic development agency, ATEED’s remit is wider than events and tourism promotion. A major part of our role right now is to provide urgent support for local businesses which have been severely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, connecting them with new government funding and other resources available,” he says.
“With the ever-moving situation under COVID-19, the importance of using digital channels to communicate has never been more important.
“ATEED requires sufficient digital resource to make necessary changes to digital channels – including our website – at pace, and to provide customer records management support. This role brings our digital team up to the strength required.”
Nick says ATEED instigated a recruitment freeze last week and any proposed new roles or recruitment must now be directly approved by him as chief executive.
“I considered the digital role that has now been advertised as essential to providing support to local businesses and key industries,” he says.
“This role requires specific technical skills and given the importance that digital content plays in outlining and delivering the support available to struggling business owners, recruitment for this role continues as a priority.
“ATEED has a key role to play in the collective effort to ensure Auckland’s economic resilience during the COVID-19 crisis, and in getting our regional economy moving when restrictions start to be lifted – working alongside the region’s key industries and agency partners,” says Nick.
“We are acutely aware of the need to be mindful of costs and Aucklanders can be assured that only vacant roles essential for supporting Auckland’s economic recovery will be recruited for – with internal appointment preferred,” he says.
