Phil
TWYFORD
Housing Spokesperson

20 March 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT

Time for Minister to put up or shut up

Housing Minister Nick Smith needs to clearly explain where he would like Auckland's rural-urban boundary to be, says Labour's Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

"The Minister doesn't like the old Metropolitan Urban Limits, he doesn't like the new Rural Urban Boundary in the unitary plan, but he won't tell Aucklanders where he thinks the new boundary should go.

“Nick Smith needs to spell out what he wants, because it is not clear to anyone. In the House today he refused to say where he wanted the new boundary to go.

“The Government threatens to legislate to get rid of the city limits, and threatens to set up a Crown Agency to take over the Council's planning powers but it won’t explain what it wants the Auckland Council to do.

"The Minister should put up or shut up. Either tell Aucklanders precisely what test Auckland Council has to meet, or back off and leave Aucklanders to decide the future shape of their city.

"If the Minister wants to get rid of the rural urban boundary it will cause uncontrolled sprawl from Pukekohe to Warkworth. If he has an alternative boundary, then let's see it.

"Nick Smith needs to tell Aucklanders what is in and what is out. Then people can decide if the Government is right or Auckland Council is right,” Phil Twyford said.

ENDS

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