23 November 2006

Auckland councils should slow down, and consult properly

While it did not grant the plaintiffs an interim injunction to block Auckland local body politicians from reaching decisions tonight on their stadium preference, the court judgement agreed that the plaintiffs had merit in their claims there had been inadequate consultation beforehand, Auckland-based Green Party MP Keith Locke says.

"What the judge decided was that he should not intervene in their power to reach a preference, since he felt that would constitute an excessive intrusion into the processes of local and central government. However, the criticisms levelled by the judge during the hearing at the woeful job done by the territorial authorities in meeting their requirement to consult should convince the councils that any decisions they reach in the next 48 hours cannot possibly be the end of the story, since the preferences do not have a proper public mandate.

"Trevor Mallard, in particular, should be feeling conscience pangs now about the rushed timetable he has imposed on Auckland. He cannot rely on such a flawed process as a basis for his final decision.

"The court has set down a date for a substantive hearing on December 11. In the circumstances, the Government should stop its breakneck rush to judgement, about a decision that will have impacts on the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of Auckland for generations to come."

ENDS

© Scoop Media