Waitakere and Helensville electorates show low support for Government super city proposals

27 April 2009

Almost half of people in Waitakere, the country’s fifth largest city, oppose plans for a super city.

A telephone survey of 401 residents shows 47% are not in favour of the Government’s plan.

Waitakere City Council Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said:

"Make no mistake, the people of Auckland are waking up to exactly what this means. And they don't like it.

“Last week over 1000 people marched through our streets and now these results should sound a real warning to the Minister and the Government.”

The poll results also found an overwhelming 72% of John Key’s electorate of Helensville and 67% of Waitakere electorate (Paula Bennett) support the six-city model as recommended by the Royal Commission, but rejected by the Government. Only 16% of Waitakere residents and 19% of Helensville residents favour the Government-proposed ‘local boards’.

The poll was conducted by Phoenix Research Limited between 17 and 20 April 2009 as a telephone survey of 401 Waitakere City residents aged 18 and over, including 222 in the Waitakere electorate and 100 in Helensville.

“Overseas experience in places like Brisbane and Toronto shows that public opposition to mega-amalgamations increases with time In fact after a decade, people in Toronto are still protesting,” said Penny Hulse.

“The Royal Commission spent 18 months and millions of dollars coming up with its recommendations. These were rejected within days by Rodney Hide (Local Government Minister).”

“We'd like to see his analysis for how 20-30 powerless little boards could work and deliver better democracy, and better services than the six or 11 council model."

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Super City Preferences Survey /
Topline Results

IN FAVOUR OF GOVERNMENT DECISION FOR NEW AUCKLAND COUNCIL

/ Total Waitakere / Waitakere Electorate / Helensville Electorate
/ 401 / 222 / 100
In favour / 34% / 33% / 34%
Not in favour / 47% / 49% / 48%
No opinion / 15% / 15% / 7%
** Not sure/don't know ** / 4% / 3% / 12%
TOTAL / 100% / 100% / 100%

Almost half (47%) of Waitakere residents and 49% of Waitakere Electorate residents are not in favour of the Government proposal

About one-third of residents (34%) and the same proportion of Waitakere Electorate residents (33%) are in favour of the Government proposal.

Helensville Electorate residents show the same levels of preference as Waitakere Electorate residents, and indeed, Waitakere City residents as a whole.

IN FAVOUR OF LOCAL BOARDS OR LOCAL COUNCILS
/ Total Waitakere / Waitakere Electorate / Helensville Electorate
/ 401 / 222 / 100
20 to 30 local boards / 16% / 16% / 19%
6 local councils, including Waitakere / 66% / 67% / 72%
Have no opinion / 12% / 12% / 4%
Not sure/ don't know / 5% / 6% / 5%
TOTAL / 100% / 100% / 100%

The difference is sharper.

Two-thirds of Waitakere residents (66%) and the same level of Waitakere Electorate residents favour local councils.

Only one-in-seven Waitakere residents and Waitakere Electorate residents (16%) favour local boards.

Helensville electorate residents appear firmer in their opinions, but the difference is not statistically significant from Waitakere residents.

They are no different from Waitakere residents in their preferences.

Preference for the Government proposal is not unqualified. For Waitakere residents in favour, 57% prefer 6 local councils, compared with 32% in favour of community boards. Helensville residents in favour show similar levels of preference.

Waitakere City Residents

/ Total Waitakere / In favour of Government proposal
/ 401 / 137
20 to 30 local boards / 16% / 32%
6 local councils, including Waitakere / 66% / 57%
Have no opinion / 12% / 8%
** Not sure/ don't know ** / 5% / 3%
TOTAL / 100% / 100%

Helensville Electorate Residents

/ Total Helensville Electorate / In favour of Government proposal
/ 100 / 33
20 to 30 local boards / 19% / 30%
6 local councils, including Waitakere and Rodney / 72% / 55%
Have no opinion / 4% / 9%
** Not sure/ don't know ** / 5% / 7%
TOTAL / 100% / 100%

ENDS

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