PRESS RELEASE – 18 May 2009

Government called on to live up to ‘fine words’.

A community coalition has called on the Government to give all Aucklanders the chance to speak at regional governance select committee hearings.

The Community Coalition for Auckland-Voices of Tamaki Makaura has been campaigning against the Government’s approach to the reorganisation of Auckland and is now writing to the Prime Minister and Local Government Minister asking to have several select committee hearings held in each current local authority area.

“The government has been very vocal in stating that the select committee process will allow Aucklanders to exercise their democratic rights,” says coalition spokesperson Tony Mayow, “It’s now time for the Government to live up to their fine words!”.

“Local hearings are only way to ensure the input of grassroots communities. It is local communities that will be most harmed - or most helped - by the changes – that’s why it’s local communities that most need to be listened to,” claimed Mr Mayow.

The Coalition challenged the government to provide for Auckland’s widely diverse communities to make submissions in their own languages, and in any form they choose. It has also asked for a guarantee of the right for anyone to present a submission to the select committee, with no limits placed on the numbers of submitters or hearings.

“Anything less will be totally unacceptable, in the most important issue in Auckland’s local government history that will affect generations of Aucklanders to come.

The government’s track record so far in following a democratic process on the reorganisation has been abysmal,” Mr Mayow stated. “This is a litmus test for the current government. It has pushed through changes claiming urgency –we claim that what is now truly urgent is for John Key’s government to finally listen to the wishes of 1.4 million Aucklanders”.

“If the government can get it right, by listening to and acting on the concerns of Aucklanders, there is a chance that an accepted and supported model of governance can emerge. Do it wrong, and Aucklanders will pay the price for many years to come, while the National Party will pay the price at the next general election.”

The Coalition is seeking support for its call from other concerned groups working across Auckland, and is supporting the hikoi/carkoi to be held on Monday 25 May.

For further details see the web site. http://www.cc4a.net.nz

ENDS

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