Minority Report: Auckland Super City

The Super City Bill has been flawed from the beginning because of the shoddy process, its undemocratic nature, and, the fact that it sets Auckland’s assets up for privatisation, the Green Party said in a minority report presented to the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee today.

“Unless local boards have a real capacity to influence decisions, communities are going to feel very remote from the decision-making process. This is one of the litany of problems Mr Hide could address before the Bill returns to the House,” Green Party Super City Spokesperson David Clendon said.

“Mr Hide has chosen to deny Aucklanders the right to put any reorganisation proposal to the Local Government Commission until at least 2015.

“Mr Hide has also chosen to deny proper representation for Māori, instead opting for a powerless advisory board on the periphery of the council structure.

Mr Clendon said he remained unconvinced that the structure of Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) will be transparent enough and accountable to the Council.

“Mr Hide has chosen to ignore the many submitters who want democratically-elected local politicians to have control over such entities,” Mr Clendon said.

“Opening the door to the privatisation of Auckland’s assets — especially that of water delivery — is also another choice Mr Hide has made.

“Mr Hide’s reassurance that water will not be privatised has a hollow ring given the introduction of a Bill that amends the Local Government Act to allow for contracts of up to 35 years.

“This is de facto privatisation of water supply and management.
“Mr Hide still has the chance to amend the Bill. We hope he listens to the submissions and puts ideology aside in the name of democracy,” Mr Clendon said.

The Green Party’s Minority report was released today and is available by following this link.
http://www.greens.org.nz/submissions/local-government-auckland-law-reform-bill-green-party-minority-report

ENDS

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