North Shore City media release

North Shore residents encouraged to have their say on future shape of greater Auckland February 5, 2008

North Shore City Mayor Andrew Williams is calling on the people of the North Shore to have their say about the future shape and governance of the greater Auckland region.

“Last year the Government formed a Royal Commission to look into how the Auckland Region should be governed now and in the future,” Mr Williams says.

“North Shore City Council will be making a formal submission to the commission and we encourage North Shore residents to do so as well.”

Mayor Williams says the Royal Commission has wide powers to identify what local and regional governance arrangements will best provide for current and future local, regional and national interests for the Auckland region.

The Royal Commission has outlined the process for submissions. An information and discussion paper will be issued by the Royal Commission at the end of February 2008. There will be a call for written submissions from the public from early March until around mid April. Once submissions close there will be a number of public hearings held in the Auckland region during May and June. The location of the North Shore hearings will be advised closer to the time. The Royal Commission will present its recommendations to the Government by 1 December 2008.

“Late last month a number of Councillors, staff and I met with the Hon Peter Salmon QC, Dame Margaret Bazley and David Shand who make up the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Auckland Governance,” Mr Williams added.

“We will be making available information on our website, including useful reference links. The Council website will also have a feedback form. Information will also be publicised via newspapers to help inform the public on the latest developments in this very important review. In the first half of March North Shore City Council will also be hosting a series of public meetings in association with our six Community Boards to assist with the public dialogue on this important subject.

“I encourage North Shore residents to make a submission to the Royal Commission directly, as any feedback provided to Council may not necessarily be included in the Council’s final submission.

Mayor Williams says in formulating its submission the council is interested in hearing a wide range of its ratepayers’ views, and believes this is a very healthy process when considering how the region will be governed into the future.

For further information people are invited to visit the council’s website www.northshorecity.govt.nz.

ENDS

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