Phil Twyford

Auckland Issues spokesperson

Trevor Mallard

Rugby World Cup spokesperson

8 July 2010 Media Statement
Time to sort out party central shambles

Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford says the Government seems to be standing around helplessly as its party central plans turn to custard.

"We have a Rugby World Cup Minister, a Minister of Infrastructure, a Minister of Transport and a Prime Minister – three of them are Auckland MPs and none of them can get it right,” Phil Twyford said.

"Is someone going to take charge before all the foreign guests arrive and New Zealand makes a fool of itself on the international stage?

"Someone needs to take charge and show some leadership. Who is in charge here? A truckload of public money is being spent, New Zealand's international reputation is on the line, but the Government is all over the place.”

Rugby World Cup spokesperson Trevor Mallard said it was obvious two weeks ago that the plans for party central on Queens Wharf were getting bogged down, but it appeared none of the responsible Ministers were on the job.

"I know from my own dealings with the waterfront stadium debate that these things in Auckland are often neither simple nor smooth. We have four Ministers in the picture and none of them appear to have given this issue the time and attention it deserves,” Trevor Mallard said.

"This needs careful negotiation to come up with a deal that sticks. Murray McCully's threatening and dictatorial approach hasn't helped matters."

ENDS

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