North Shore City Council 27 July 2009

The MPs have heard, but have they listened? - Mayor Andrew Williams

With the hearings for oral submissions now concluded, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams is urging the Auckland local governance select committee to carefully consider the issues raised by the hundreds of submitters they have heard from and deliver a workable solution for the benefit of all Aucklanders.

“Over and over again, the select committee has been hearing the same messages from individuals, groups, businesses and the councils involved. An interesting consensus developed around limiting the powers of the executive mayoralty, electing all members of the Auckland Council from wards, empowering the community councils, and providing mana whenua with a place at the top table,” Mayor Williams said.

“Our council felt that we got a good hearing from the select committee members and we wish them well in their deliberations as they come to grips with turning the government’s ‘super city’ proposal into a workable solution for the benefit of all Aucklanders, and New Zealand as a whole. We believe our 20 – 20 – 20 solution, involving 20 councillors, 20 wards and 20 community councils, is worthy of serious consideration by the committee.”

Mayor Williams warned that the government is in danger of undermining the reforms should it decide to press ahead without public support.

“A poll of North Shore ratepayers carried out by Colmar Brunton makes it crystal clear that the public overwhelmingly wants all councillors elected by ward and not elected ‘at large’ from across the region (80 percent favour ward representation), and that the community councils need to have the powers and the resources in their own right to deliver local services (88 percent). People are also determined to see that their community assets remain in public council ownership (85 percent).

“Also, the 6,500 local authority employees will ne watching keenly to see if the government has listened to their concerns and will protect their employment through the transition to the new Auckland Council.”

“If the select committee and the government hears but does not listen to the public on these and other matters where there is across the board agreement, the new Auckland Council will fail and we will be back to square one, with only the massive cost of the reorganisation and a legacy of upheaval to show for it,” Mayor Williams said.

Mayor Williams said that his council acknowledges the position of Franklin and Rodney district councils, both of which said that they did not wish to be part of the new Auckland Council.

“The North Shore City Council supports in principle the need to change the regional governance structure of Auckland, however the model presented by the government in the Bill is deeply flawed, and the public is very clear what needs to be done to fix it up to make it workable. The onus it now on the government to demonstrate they have listened as they promised. The people of greater Auckland will be watching intently and will certainly hold the government, and those who support its views, to account if they get it wrong,” Mayor Williams said.

ENDS

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