Jim Anderton's Speech to the Auckland region and sustainable growth

11.30 am 31 January 2003 Auckland Mayoral Forum Auckland City Council

Mayors George Wood, John Banks, John Law, David Buist Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone (attending on behalf of Mayor Harvey)

The very fact that the mayors of Auckland need to meet regularly, on such a wide range of issues underlines that there are many issues involved in managing the growth of the Auckland region.

A third of our population lives in Auckland Regional Council area.

You have over a third of our business and generate one third of our national income.

The tensions caused by rapid growth and development are more obvious in this region than in any other.

Infrastructure is of crucial importance to all of you, this of course includes essential service supply, waste disposal, roads and other transport networks and facilities such as schools and hospitals.

Broader social issues such as poverty, education, employment and health services are also vitally important.

As leaders of the Auckland region I know you all regard these issues as priorities.

Your goal, and the goal of central government, must be to make the Auckland economy as strong and as productive as possible.

I have said to you all before that for the New Zealand economy to succeed all our regions and industries need to succeed.

We cannot afford to have growth in spurts that stop and start. We cannot have the Auckland economy stalled for any length of time.

Auckland’s development needs to be re-generating growth that feeds on itself and is sustained into the future.

We also need to ensure as the Auckland regional cities grow that the environment and your communities are supported and enhanced. If the natural environment or a healthy way of life is damaged as your region grows the growth cannot continue.

I believe this Government’s intentions and commitment have been signalled clearly.

This Labour Progressive Government has recognised, and we have said that regions cannot address many of the issues they need to, without the partnership of central Government.

We are here to work with you to make Auckland stronger.

We all want to see more jobs, higher pay rates, more opportunities and an even better standard of living for the citizens of Auckland.

Your success will ultimately be a success for all of New Zealand.

Today, on behalf of the Government, Marian Hobbs and I are announcing the plan of action for sustainable economic development.

Marian is leading the Sustainable Development plan of action and she and I are both working on sustainable development for New Zealand’s cities.

Sustainable Cities seeks to work to ensure our cities are centres of economic growth and innovation while ensuring that they support social wellbeing, quality of life and cultural identity.

All of our cities have a vital role to play in the future of New Zealand.

However it is no secret that in the most recent past Auckland has not been performing as well as it could be.

That is why your Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy is of such significance.

One of the important features of this strategy is your recognition of the need to have growth which maintains and enhances your natural environment and ensures your region looks, feels and is a great place to live.

This is exactly the sort of ambition that this Government wants to work with you to achieve.

The Auckland region requires transport, energy, water and communication networks that support your growth.

The region also requires effective social, educational and community services that support children and young people as well as all citizens of the region.

We need to address poverty, particularly where children do not have the access to health and education to give them the best start in life.

I am confident this Programme of Action is another important part of the constructive steps we can take to achieve these goals, together.

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