19 May 2009

Hide undermines Local Government Commission

Super-City lobbyist Grant Kirby's appointment to the Local Government Commission undermines its independence and exposes Rodney Hide's cronyism, Green Local Government Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

"Mr Hide is appointing his mates to key positions so he can push through his Super-City policy unopposed." Ms Kedgley said.

"This is a brazen example of a partisan appointment, and I predict it will be followed by the appointment of more of his mates to the all powerful Transition Agency next week.

"The Local Government Commission is supposed to be impartial. The appointment of Mr Kirby, an ardent lobbyist for the Super-City, compromises its independence."

The Local Government Commission will determine how Super-City Councillors are elected, as well as the boundaries of a ward-based electoral system.

Grant Kirby is the former chairman of the One Auckland Trust which lobbied extensively to combine Auckland's Councils.

Ms Kedgley was astonished that Mr Kirby had been appointed to liaise between the Local Government Commission and the Auckland Transition Agency; "This is a blatant and audacious example of a politically-biased appointment, a classic Rogernomics tactic."

"The Transition Agency has extraordinary powers that I have never seen in legislation before. It can withhold information from the public, review and presumably veto agenda items of locally elected Councils, and take any staff it wishes from existing local councils.

"With these sorts of draconian powers, Rodney should be able to ram his agenda through," Ms Kedgley said.

ENDS

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