Agenda Highlights: September 9 2006

ChCh To Auckland – Get Your Act Together

Act now and make Auckland a supercity, is the message from Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore to his northern colleagues.

Mr Moore says the city should emulate Christchurch and simply have one mayor and one Council.

Speaking on Agenda, Mr Moore said while Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey and Manukau City Mayor Sir Barry Curtis seemed to be on the right track, but their solution to greater Auckland’s infrastructure woes was the wrong one.

“I think these guys have got an opportunity to restructure. When you do restructure it’s a painful process, and that painful process should be done once, not twice. So my response to Barry and Bob is come down here and we’ll show you what one city should look like.

“I think [they’re] are making all the right noises, but in fact making the wrong actions.”

Bob Harvey agreed with Mr Moore’s assessment, but said his initial desire for one city was not possible, as the ‘engine room’ of Auckland’s governance needed to be fixed first.

Mr Harvey also said it was unlikely that Aucklanders would see a rates increase out of any restructuring.

“I doubt it really, but I think we’ll hold rates and have a common rate across the region, and that makes sense.”

Hodgson Won’t Rule Out Gutter Politics

The National Party had better watch its back if it continues to call the Government corrupt, says Labour cabinet minister and party strategist Pete Hodgson.

In a week marred by Parliamentary bad behaviour, the Labour Party has threatened to respond to the opposition’s taunts with some revelations of their own.

“You will see us respond as long as National calls us corrupt, and what we respond with is our business.”

Field Never Fit To Be MP

Margaret Pope, David Lange’s widow says Phlip Field is not fit to be an MP.

Mr Field replaced Mr Lange as MP for the safe Labour seat of Mangere when the former Prime Minister retired in 1996.

Ms Pope said her late husband wouldn’t have been surprised by the Ingram Report into Mr Field’s behaviour, as he voiced his concern about him 10 years ago.

“[The Ingram Report] showed quite clearly that Phillip is not fit to be an MP, and it was plain ten years ago that Phillip was not fit to be an MP.”

“I think it’s very sad. I think he’s been a poor MP for Mangere, he does not represent all the people of Mangere. I hope he’ll resign, I hope that Mangere will get a better MP as a result.”

ENDS

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