24 August 2009

Cabinet decision sets up ‘super city’ to fail

The decision by Cabinet today to confirm its earlier April “fast 10 day post Royal Commission decision” against having Maori seats on the new Auckland Council means the new city will start life with a fight on its hands, undermining the unity so fundamental to its future success and setting it up to fail, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams said today.

“The new Auckland Council will have to deal with the huge disappointment of Maori and the resulting on-going consequences for partnership, consensus and progress so vital to effective local governance,” Mayor Williams said.

“Coming on top of the government’s decision to legislate away the right of Aucklanders to hold a referendum on the ‘super city’ and instead impose without a democratic vote the ‘one council, one mayor’ model under urgency, the new Auckland Council will start life with little sense of public legitimacy and no real sense of a public enthusiasm for its existence.”

“The one glimmer of hope held out by the government to the people of greater Auckland was the select committee process, which has now been trashed by Cabinet before the public and Parliament even get to see the committee’s report and recommendations. What was the point in having this Maori Sub Committee announced on 3 July (see below) if Rodney Hide had already made the ultimatum to John Key? Was it just a sham, to look good, when the Government wasn’t really interested in hearing the views of Maori?”

“Even if Cabinet drops the foolish proposal for at-large ‘celebrity’ councillors and seriously beefs-up the powers and resources of the local boards, the fact remains that the process will have left a bitter taste in the mouths of most Aucklanders, and of Maori, that will take the new Auckland Council and the government years to overcome.”

“Ultimately, it’s the people of greater Auckland who will pay the price for Rodney Hide’s threats and bullying. Had Rodney Hide put more effort into taking the people of greater Auckland with him and less effort into trying to impress his mentor Roger Douglas and other business interests, the outcome for Auckland governance and the people of greater Auckland would have been much more promising,” Mayor Williams said.

Mayor Williams said that the submission of the North Shore City Council to the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee urged the government to give greater consideration to Maori representation on the Auckland Council and to undertake further engagement with Maori to arrive at the best solution.

ENDS

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