6 May 2008

Community Coalition Backs MPs Social Wellbeing Proposal

Members of the Community Coalition for Auckland; Voices of Tamaki Makaurau, have acted decisively to dispel fears that a personal attack against Waitakere MP Paula Bennett was launched yesterday. A press release, sent out in error from a voluntary media representative on behalf of the Coalition, has been retracted.

“We reiterate our earlier support of the stance Ms Bennett took in Parliament criticising the Government’s Regional Governance model as lacking any social wellbeing component,” said Coalition co-spokesperson Iris Donoghue. “We welcome the Social Issues Forum that Ms Bennett proposed and which has now been approved by Cabinet. This was not clearly reflected in the press release sent in error.”

“Ms Bennett’s recent actions demonstrate her commitment to ensuring that community wellbeing is firmly on the table for any decisions on Auckland’s Supercity.”

“However, we continue to be alarmed at the ‘fast-tracking’ of legislation by Minister for Local Government, Rodney Hide,” added Mrs Donoghue. “This is the vital first stage in the process and the community is being shut out by the rushed way that Mr Hide is pushing the legislation through.

“We will continue to fight for the retention of the Maori Seats, as recommended within the Royal Commissions Report,” said Tony Mayow, co-spokesperson for the Coalition. “as well as for all Councillors to be elected from Wards rather than at large.”

“While we are thankful for Ms Bennett’s support of the social wellbeing concerns being voiced by her Waitakere constituents, we will still keep working to ensure all of the community’s Supercity concerns get heard by Government.”

Representatives of the Coalition will meet with Ms Bennett on Friday to discuss the proposed Social Issues Forum in greater detail.

ENDS

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