Media statement Thursday, April 12th, 2007

Hearings process on signs & billboards a farce

Some Auckland City councilors involved with the billboards and signs bylaw have acted contrary to the legal requirement for open-minded consultation on the issue, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

"The hearings process on the bylaw from the beginning has fallen so far short of consultation its being seen as a farce," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"The activists who got themselves appointed to the hearings committee recently told several of the parties most affected they wouldn't be heard.

"They then divided the hearings so some submitters would have to attend two committee hearings, and to cap it off, can't or won't tell submitters when they should attend the hearings to present their oral submissions.

"People whose livelihoods are on the line are being told to wait around for up to four hours for a time slot to be heard. This is what happens to criminals waiting around outside a courtroom to be tried.

"It's unacceptable. We can't believe the Auckland council is unable to organize a schedule that lists when submitters will be heard. Every other Government agency manages to do this.

"We can only assume some councilors, especially those whose opposition to signs and billboards is on record are trying to silence those wanting to be heard.

"It seems they are sabotaging the consultation process on a bylaw that we and others believe may well be illegal in terms of the council's powers."

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