Media release 18 May 2009
Statement from David Thornton

Mayors should stop scaremongering on Auckland governance issues.

With the passage of the first Auckland reorganisation Bill through Parliament its time the scaremongering opponents sat down and put their minds on ensuring that the new governance system will work for the benefit of all citizens – including the ratepayers who will be paying for it.

North Shore Mayor, Andrew Williams, continues to put out misleading statements that the new governance strucuture is being set up specifically to allow the sell-off of public assets – especially water.

Mayor Williams should devote less time to spreading this sort of mis-information, and more time on reducing the rates increases proposed in his city’s annual plan.

North Shore’s total average rates increase wil be 6.4% - the highest in the Auckland region.

The appointment of the Transition Board will at last give residents a point of reference to which they can communicate their concerns.

There is also a second Bill going to a select committee which will sit in Auckland and which will also provide opportunities for residents and ratepayers to put their views and raise questions to address their concerns.

All the mayors and councillors in the region should be supporting their residents by giving them correct facts rather than wild accusations which have little or no foundation.

ENDS

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