Minister confirms Local boards will be toothless

4 June 2009
Media release

Minister confirms how toothless local boards will be

Rodney Hide has confirmed just how toothless local boards will be if the Government’s Super City plans proceed, by saying they may have to hold their meetings in local libraries, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Mr Hide made the comments today on Morning Report when responding to criticisms of the proposals around the local boards, made by Royal Commission chairman and former High Court Judge Peter Salmond.

“Justice Salmond says the 20-30 local boards which are proposed would be too small to engage effectively with the new Auckland Council and that that council would end up taking control of local issues to the detriment of regional issues.

“He also noted that the local boards would be more expensive than the six, second tier, councils proposed by the Royal Commission if they were given the offices and staff which would be needed if they were to try to operate usefully.

“Mr Hide responded that the local boards ‘won’t necessarily need to have premises…they could meet in the local community library or something like that.’

“This highlights what Labour has been saying, which is that the local boards proposed by the Government will clearly lack the resources required to enable them to properly represent local interests,” says Phil Twyford.

“Mr Hide claims that the whole purpose of creating so many boards is to ensure local representation – but the plan will simply create a plethora of powerless councillors with very little ability to influence the new Auckland Council.

“Documents released by Mr Hide concede as much. They show that of the four options the Government explored for second tier representation, the model offering the third least level of ‘local influence’ was chosen - the local boards.

“Labour has consistently said there must be enough second tier bodies to ensure the “local” is kept in local democracy, while at the same time ensuring they are big enough, and well enough resourced, to be influential,” says Phil Twyford.

“Mr Hide’s dismissal of the ShapeNZ poll as simply a reflection of people being afraid of change, was indicative of the arrogant approach being taken on this issue. The poll found widespread condemnation of the Government’s handling of its Super City proposals.”

ENDS