Government leaves Auckland in dark on local boards

4 December 2009
Media Statement
Government leaves Aucklanders in dark over local boards

The Government's third super city bill leaves Aucklanders in the dark over the power of local boards, says Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Aucklanders want to know whether local boards will have real powers or just be toothless talkshops. Rodney Hide promised the third bill would spell out the boards' powers in detail but his announcement yesterday leaves us none the wiser,” Phil Twyford says.

"The super council decides what powers get delegated to the boards, they will have no regulatory functions, and the Council can decline to delegate powers it thinks are best dealt with regionally. Who knows what will be left for the boards to do?

"This is the litmus test of the Government's flawed super city model. If the boards don't have real powers then we are looking at the total centralisation of power - over 1.4 million people in the hands of 20 councillors and a mayor. That would be a betrayal of Aucklanders."

On other issues, Phil Twyford said:

• Maori are being offered a fig leaf in the form of a statutory board with no decision making powers, when the Government could have given Aucklanders a win-win two months ago by opting for Maori seats AND getting Rodney Hide's resignation.

• The Bill establishes a new $5 billion water monopoly that will wield enormous power yet the Government has rejected the Royal Commission's sensible recommendation for an independent performance auditor to protect consumers.

• The Government has compounded its ill-advised decision to require the use of the unfair First Past the Post voting system for council elections in 2010 by also mandating it for the 2013 elections.

• Rodney Hide tries to reassure Aucklanders in his announcement that there will be no privatisation but out of the other side of his mouth he is proceeding with changes to the Local Government Act which will allow private companies to own water infrastructure for up to 35 years.

ENDS