Phil Twyford
Auckland Issues Spokesperson

13 July 2009 Media Statement

Banks out of step with Aucklanders

Auckland City mayor John Banks appearing before the select committee this morning showed he was out of step with much of public opinion on aspects of the super city Bill, said Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Mayor Banks, a declared candidate for the super-mayoralty, made the case for a minimum of 8 councillors in the new Auckland Council to be elected at large, arguing that when he was a councillor representing Birkenhead on the regional council early in his political career he was first and foremost focused on getting re-elected, and looking after the votes in his local ward,” Phil Twyford said.

Phi Twyford said that after a week of submissions there was a strong weight of submission in favour of councillors being elected from wards.

“People are worried that including at-large councilors would mean over-representation by the eastern suburbs, as was the case before the ward system was introduced to Auckland City and slso that the expense of campaigning across a city of 1.4 million would mean only the rich and famous would stand.”

Phil Twyford said he was confident ward-based councilors would be able to transcend parochial concerns. The key was to clearly separate out the regional and local responsibilities of the super-council and local councils.

“Discussion of Mayor Banks' submission also focused on the controversial question of the powers of local boards. Auckland City proposed that the new super city council would delegate powers to the local councils, and be given the flexibility to shape the roles of super-council and local councils over time.

“This was out of step with many other submissions which asked that the powers of local boards would be clearly mandated in legislation and not left up to the discretion of the Auckland Council,” Phil Twyford said.

"Auckland City has starved its community boards of powers and budget. They are not a good example for the super city. It offers a good case study of why the powers of local councils should be set out in law and not left up to the discretion of the super-council."

“Mayor Banks made a passionate presentation in favor of the new unitary council but that is a no-brainer. We all want to see strengthened regional governance. The committee is grappling with how to balance that with preserving local democracy. The public clearly want a strong local say for local communities. Mayor Banks, with his advocacy for at-large councilors, and lukewarm support for mandated empowered local councils, is out of step,” Phil Twyford said.

ENDS

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