Media release 6th May 2010

SuperCity referendum ‘silly and biased’.

The launch of a so-called referendum by some community groups and ‘The Aucklander’ newspaper is an unnecessary diversion as the new Auckland Council moves ever-closer to becoming reality,

A referendum which only puts up one side of an issue is not a referendum – it is a politically motivated one-sided campaign.

In the case of SuperCity, the case against – which is the only case presented – the question asked is “Do you approve of the way in which the Government is setting up the new Auckland Council (the “Super City”)?

The question is obviously constructed to encourage a ‘NO’ vote – but the reality is that, while few people are totally satisfied with the process to date, there has been widespread dis-satisfaction with the present system for a number of years.

The public clearly wanted change.

The problem is that the introduction of the new system has been rushed far too quickly for some people’s taste, including mine, – and we are still waiting for the final select committee report and Parliaments decisions on powers of Local Boards.

In this hiatus the ‘merchants of fear’ have had a field day – warnings of wholesale asset sales, water privatisation, local decisions being made by bureaucrats in Wellington, Government appointed directors running 75% of council operations, and toothless elected local government throughout Auckland.

None of these accusations can really be substantiated.

Final decisions have not yet been made – but this silly and biased referendum will not influence those decisions.

Aucklanders have been consulted on two Parliamentary Bills, and through the Royal Commission – that Commission clearly calling for major changes.

Unfortunately the Commission’s proposals would have left the present councils in place – although with reduced powers.

This would have allowed the continuation of duplicated and wasteful organisations – with ever-increasing pressure on the councils rates bills.

It must be acknowledged that local government in New Zealand exists at the will of Parliament – it is Parliament which has always established the legality of local councils.

What the Government is doing is setting up a new framework and then handing powers back to locally elected representatives.

This process has been far from perfect – but, in the end, it will be locally elected representatives who will make decisions on assets sales, and who will be responsible for the actions and reporting of the Council Controlled Organisations.

I did not support the SuperCity concept – but it is going to happen, and local politicians should be working constructively to make the new system work to the benefit of Aucklanders.

This referendum will achieve nothing,

Ends.

© Scoop Media