Collins buckles on Super City tea and scone clubs

George Hawkins
Local Government spokesperson
Phil Twyford
Auckland Issues Spokesperson

17 June 2009 Media release

Collins buckles on Super City “tea and scone clubs”

Senior Auckland Cabinet Minister Judith Collins has conceded the Government’s proposed local boards for Auckland will be nothing more than “tea and scone clubs”, say Labour MPs George Hawkins and Phil Twyford.

“This is the clearest admission yet that some Government ministers now accept the rushed and poorly thought-out plans for reforming Auckland governance must be revisited,” says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson George Hawkins.

“And it raises further questions about Local Government Minister Rodney Hide’s handling of his portfolio,” he said.

Judith Collins was reported saying in the Papakura Courier today: “the Super City and Auckland’s regional governance structure is something I’m very concerned about. I want local boards to be more than tea and scone clubs. I’ve written twice to the Local Government Minister and had many conversations with him.”

Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford said Labour supports a unitary Auckland council, but has repeatedly raised concerns about the Government’s proposed 20-30 local boards.

“As the proposals stand, the boards will be toothless and will strip the “local” from local government by denying communities the ability to protect the identity of their local communities and ensure local assets are managed in their interests.

“Local Government New Zealand agrees, as does the Royal Commission chairman Justice Peter Salmond and most importantly Aucklanders themselves.

“This is the biggest ever reform of Auckland local governance and we must get it right. Mr Hide must come clean and admit he needs to go back to the drawing board. Proper second tier representation is critical to ensuring this succeeds.

Mr Hawkins said Mr Hide’s proposed reforms of the Local Government Act were also unravelling as the contradictions between his plans and the Government’s actions over the Rugby World Cup became more apparent.

Mr Hide wants the law changed so that councils have to hold referenda on big ticket spending proposals, giving the public a right of veto. But his Government colleagues are busy purchasing land with the Auckland Regional Council for a
party for the Rugby World Cup, without any public consultation.”

ENDS