Phil
TWYFORD
Auckland Issues spokesperson

Thursday, 3 November 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Labour promises central government partnership with Auckland

Labour today committed to a close partnership to make Auckland the ‘world’s most liveable city’, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Labour will work constructively with the Auckland Council to deliver the big changes Aucklanders want, including a world class transport system and a revitalised city centre,” Phil Twyford said.

“Together central government and Auckland Council will tackle poverty and inequality in South Auckland, which was a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance that National ignored.

“Under Labour, government ministers and the city’s mayor and councillors will develop a ‘Common Accountability Platform’ to align key priorities and budgets for our biggest city.

“Auckland and its Mayor Len Brown have set ambitious goals. But It’s very hard to see how these will be achieved while a National government in Wellington continues to stonewall progress,” Phil Twyford said.

“A prime example is the Auckland Council’s plan for a compact city, which National MPs and ministers continue to undermine.

“National’s vision for Auckland is more motorways and inefficient urban sprawl. It won’t work in the twenty-first century,” Phil Twyford said.

“Labour has a plan to ensure Aucklanders have a better built, sustainable, economically vibrant city. Labour will invest in healthy durable housing, high-quality urban development, public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.

“We will champion Auckland as an Eco-City, with a carbon neutral council, a focus on conservation and added incentives to protect and clean up our waterways, and promote the development of high-value, clean-tech, New Zealand export firms.

“We will meet the Auckland Council half way in funding the City Rail Link, with $1.2 billion freed up by cancelling Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s Wellsford- Puhoi ‘holiday highway’

Phil Twyford said Labour would fix up the problems left by National’s mishandling of the process to set up the Super City.

“People need to be confident their voices are being heard. Labour will enshrine the powers of local boards in law and transition from the appointed Maori Statutory Board to elected Maori seats on the Council.

“National has handed too much power in the new super city to hand-picked corporate boards. We will repeal the law that imposes a corporate structure on Auckland’s transport organisation, leaving it up to the Council to decide whether it should be run as a public service or set up as a corporate,” Phil Twyford said.

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