24 April 2009

Prime Minister asked to keep his election promises to strengthen local democracy

Meeting with Prime Minister John Key today, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams proposed the Prime Minister could keep his 2008 Local Government policy promises to Auckland by accepting a ward system for all elected seats on the new Auckland Council.

“John Key promised last election to strengthen local democracy so that distinct communities of interest are given a voice around the council table, that each community in Auckland will be appropriately represented, and to consult with Aucklanders once the findings of the Royal Commission are known,” Mayor Andrew Williams said.

“These are good polices that were widely supported, because they specifically recognize that communities are diverse and have different needs and must have direct representation at the council table, and that people are entitled to have a hand in shaping the big changes proposed before decisions are made.”

“Now with the election over, I have great faith that the Prime Minister will not abandon his promises to local communities in favour of ‘one voice’ for Auckland. On the one hand, his policies say communities must have a voice around the council table and be appropriately represented and consulted, and on the other hand his plan is for Auckland to have only ‘one voice’ and little or no representation.”

“With 12 Ward councillors serving around 120,000 people each and another 8 ‘Elected at Large’ councillors serving 1.4 million people each, its is crystal clear whose ‘voice’ will represent Auckland’s voice - the voice of Queen Street, Victoria Ave and Paratai Drive.”

“The voices of everyone else in the city are relegated to the 20 or 30 toothless local boards, with no power or resources, who like Oliver Twist will be left to pluck up their courage to beg their new lords and masters for a little bit more for their communities,” Mayor Andrew Williams said.

Mayor Andrew Williams stressed that although the policy to give distinct communities of interest a voice around the council table seems to be aimed at strengthening rural representation on council by varying the size of Wards, the principle underpinning the policy inherently recognizes the benefit of the Ward system and that Ward size is an important issue in guaranteeing appropriate representation on council.

Mayor Williams also sought an assurance from the Prime Minister that he would honour his election promise to ‘consult with Aucklanders once the findings of the Royal Commission are known’ and also sought an assurance around local delivery of services.

“It is clear to me from the meetings I have attended and the constant feedback I’m getting that the public do not accept that making a submission on proposed legislation amounts to the consultation promised and also that people are worried they will have to phone a call centre in Mumbai or Melbourne to discuss an overdue library book or sort out a mistake on a rates bill.”

“These sentiments are echoed across the region and it’s still not too late for John Key to keep his promises and accept that Auckland’s communities must have a direct voice and be represented on the new Auckland Council through their own local elected councillors. The Prime Minister gave me a good hearing today. He says he is listening, I’m confident that he is, and working together as a region with the government I’m sure we will come up with a workable solution in the very near future.” Mayor Andrew Williams said.

ENDS

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