PSA Media Release
October 30, 2009
For Immediate Use

Northland power shows risks of corporatising Akld Super City

“Is the power cut that has struck Northland and west Auckland a taste of things to come if Local Government Minister Rodney Hide gets his way with the corporatisation of services like public transport and water as part of the Auckland ‘super city’,” says PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff.

It’s being reported that the agency designing the ‘super city’ plans to have a single large ‘council controlled organisation’ (CCO) providing a vital service like water to the everyone living and working in the ‘super city.’ A single CCO would also provide public transport for the whole ‘super city.’

“This will mean the 1.3 million people who will live and work in the ‘super city’ will be reliant on corporate organisations, that are not answerable to them , for vital services that they rely on.’’

“This also means that vital services like water and public transport are neatly packaged up for privatisation.”

“This power cut is a timely reminder how much we all rely on services like power, water and public transport.”

“Aucklanders and the whole country should be nervous about this move towards placing vital services they rely on into the control of private companies whose prime motive is making a profit,” says Richard Wagstaff.

ENDS

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