Government says ‘NO’ to Aucklanders

Government has said 'no' to the two big things that Aucklanders wanted that would help fix their broken super city model and shift control back into their hands, says Labour’s spokesperson for Auckland Issues Phil Twyford

“The third super city bill, which was tabled in Parliament today, gives no real power in law for local boards and fails to shift normal civic activity out of council-owned companies and back into the Auckland Council. All of which Aucklanders have clearly called for,” said Phil Twyford.

“This is a massive con job on Aucklanders. The Government is ignoring the voices of Aucklanders who say these changes will make Auckland governance less accountable and less transparent.

“The Government’s corporatisation plans for Auckland have been given the green light:

• They are still planning to hand over 75% of local government to council-owned companies
• Making these new council companies publish a glossy brochure and hold a press conference every three months and calling it ‘accountability’ is an insult to Aucklanders.
• A majority of the initial directors are going to be appointed by Rodney Hide
• The Council Controlled Organisations (CCO) are going to be so big and so powerful it will be difficult for the Council and mayor to hold them accountable

“The Government is imposing the CCOs on Auckland. Every other Council in NZ gets to make its own decisions about what is corporatized and what is not; why not Auckland?

“The Government insists on setting up the transport agency as a CCO, against the wishes of Aucklanders and the advice of four government departments who said it would reduce the transparency and accountability to ratepayers.

“This Government has ignored the majority of submitters who said they wanted to see the powers of local boards guaranteed in law.

“After a year of promising they would empower local boards they have failed to deliver. Local boards have no ability to make bylaws and the Council doesn’t have to delegate powers to the boards if they deem certain decisions better made regionally.

“Aucklanders deserved better from this Government. They deserved to have a say in the future of their city. This Government has denied them that,” Phil Twyford.

ENDS

© Scoop Media