PRESS RELEASE – 29 April 2009

Support for Minister from Community Coalition for Auckland

The Community Coalition for Auckland-Voices of Tamaki Makaurau has congratulated Waitakere MP and Minister of Social Development Paula Bennett for her public support of their concerns about potential loss of local control and projects. The Minister has taken the unusual step of publicly criticising the current proposals on regional governance.

The Coalition is spearheading a campaign against the governance proposals put forward by Local Government Minster Rodney Hide. It has argued for the report of the Royal Commission on Regional Governance to be used as the basis of legislation for the Super City.

Coalition representatives recently met with Ms Bennett to discuss the Government’s proposals for the Super City.

“It was a very constructive meeting and Ms Bennett asked for the group’s ideas on how local views can be given a voice in a new structure for Auckland’s governance”, stated Iris Donoghue, a Coalition spokesperson.

“It was great to have our local MP asking for the views of her community.

That’s what democracy is all about, and it’s particularly pleasing that she has now spoken out so clearly in favour of greater local democracy and continued funding for local initiatives.” A further meeting between Ms Bennett and the Coalition is scheduled to review the Coalition’s ideas for local structures powers and functions.

“Whatever we end up with at a local level needs to have the power and budget to implement local solutions determined by local input on priorities,” said Ms Donoghue.

Recent comments by Prime Minister John Key have also been seen by the Coalition as a major step forward for their campaign. Mr Key has supported giving greater powers and funding to local areas to control their own ‘grassroots’ projects “It is now obvious that the Government has been taken aback by the depth and breadth of opposition to the Rodney Hide-led proposals” said Coalition spokesperson Tony Mayow.

“Polls in Helensville and Waitakere demonstrate clearly that there is very little public support for the 20-30 local Community Boards. The overwhelming regional response to our campaign has shown the anger within the community over the way local voices have, up to now, been shut out of the future of their city.

“We have not yet formed a view on the number of local bodies that would be appropriate, but we reiterate that the Royal Commission report should form the basis for select committee discussion. This proposed six local councils, with up to 11considered workable.

The Community Coalition for Auckland: Voices of Tamaki Makaurau will be speaking at a public meeting in the CBD tonight. Manukau Mayor Len Brown will address the meeting at the London Bar at 7pm. It has also been invited to speak at Meetings in Papakura, on May 4th, and in Manukau, where efforts to establish a Manukau Steering Group are underway.

The Coalition supports the call by Maori for ‘solid partnership’ within Auckland’s regional governance and that real representation for Maori is included in any proposal. The Coalition will be joining the Hikoi on May 25 where people from all cultures will converge from the four corners of Auckland to the bottom of Queen Street by 12 noon. From here they will march to the Town Hall.

For further details of this and other actions, see the web site.

http://www.cc4a.net.nz

ENDS

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