Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Thursday 11 February 2009

Banks and C&R Support Government’s Privatisation Agenda

Today’s Extraordinary Auckland City Council meeting signed off the council’s final submission to the third Auckland Governance Bill and City Vision-Labour Councillors say that this plan from Mayor John Banks and Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Councillors will result in shambolic, ineffective and unaccountable governance in Auckland along with privatisation of some of Auckland’s most important assets.

Councillor Richard Northey said, “I strongly questioned the motivations of Mayor John Banks and his C&R cronies in voting en bloc against my motion that the existing protection in legislation against the privatisation of the Ports of Auckland shareholding and of Watercare should be restored to the third Auckland Bill.  Councillors Armstrong, Christian and Hay even say that it could be a good idea to privatise Ports of Auckland!  It is hypocritical for Rodney Hide to say that the Auckland Council could be trusted to make decisions to sell off the family silver when at the same time he has introduced 186 pages of great detail in the third Auckland Bill, including that there be braces on election campaign signs at exactly 45 degrees because Rodney Hide believes that Aucklanders couldn’t be trusted to make such decisions.”

Councillor Glenda Fryer said, “Recently released research on regional governance show some Aucklanders are very worried by the influence of Rodney Hide and John Banks on the Supercity.  They have every reason to be worried as the Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) in charge of most of Auckland’s assets have been structured to be as far removed from Auckland’s residents as possible.  With Rodney Hide appointing all CCO directors in his political image, there could well be a total paralysis in a year’s time if they have a different view from the elected Auckland Council politicians.”

Councillor Cathy Casey said, “On the day before the submissions are due on the third Auckland Bill, the most important piece of legislation in this whole restructuring debacle, Council research says that nearly three quarters of people don’t know what’s going on.  This Council has abrogated its responsibility to understand the mood of the people of Auckland about this amalgamation.  The only thing people know is that there will be less local identity and fewer community facilities under the Supercity.  The only hope is that Auckland elects Auckland Councillors who are responsive to the voice of the community.”

Councillor Leila Boyle said, “I think it is outrageous that Banks and C&R continue to ignore pleas from the community for writing Local Boards’ basic roles and functions into law.  All voters need to know what Local Boards’ core responsibilities will be so they can judge if candidates have the skills and knowledge needed to do the job and Aucklanders need assurance that Auckland Council won’t take power away from Local Boards if they feel like it.  Local Boards also need to be renamed something like Local Council to reflect that they will be more like District Councils in what they do.”

Independent Hauraki Gulf Councillor Denise Roche said, “I can’t believe that John Banks and his C&R cronies can attend the Ngati Whatua Waitangi Day celebrations at Okahu Bay and talk about partnership and five days later blithely shut Ngati Whatua and all other Maori out of all decision-making for the new Auckland Council.  Banks and C&R are advocating that Maori not have a vote on any council committees - which perpetuates an unequal relationship.  This is not partnership, this is hypocrisy.”

ENDS

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