Twyford hits back at Hide over Super City criticism

Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson, Phil Twyford has hit back at criticism from Local Government Minister Rodney Hide saying Mr. Hide, more than any other person, has discredited the super city process.

Mr. Hide criticised Aucklanders who demonstrated outside the select committee hearings in Parnell yesterday, and Labour MP Phil Twyford who organised the rally.

"Under the third super city bill Rodney Hide gets to hand-pick the boards of the powerful commercial structures who will run up to 90% of Council operations. If that is not politicising the process I don't know what is."

"Rodney Hide is the man who has led the Government's assault on our democracy. He took away Aucklanders' right to a referendum on this forced amalgamation.

"He has rammed through two super city bills under urgency. Two-thirds of Aucklanders say they feel ignored by the Government and 56% don't want to be part of the super city.

"Last year Hide invited Maori to make submissions to the select committee on Maori representation at the same time he politicised the process by threatening to resign leading to the rejection of the Maori seats even before the committee started hearing submissions.

"For eight months the Government has been promising they would give real powers to local boards, but the draft powers are a joke. No wonder submitters to the select committee are angry and frustrated."

"Rodney Hide has called the 150 Aucklanders who demonstrated outside the committee hearings 'sad'. Aucklanders are sad, but not in the insulting way Mr Hide means. They are very sad about is happening to their city and their democracy."

Twyford said he was proud to have been part of the demonstration outside the select committee yesterday.

"As an MP my job is to fight for what the people want. I take the select committee process very seriously. It is a precious part of our democracy. But when a Government refuses to listen to the people then it is time to take up our right to peaceful protest as well."

ENDS

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