Media Statement
Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Hon Peter Dunne
MP for Ohariu
Leader of UnitedFuture

Dunne: Hide’s Auckland-only supercity decision disappointing

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne is disappointed Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is ruling out further local government reform beyond the establishment of the Auckland supercity during this parliamentary term.

“I agree completely with the Minister that the Auckland undertaking is a massive one, and it is important to get it right, but the needs of areas of like Wellington for reform are just as great.

“I sincerely hope the Minister has not been got at by local authority leaders and forced to back down,” he said.

Mr Dunne said his concern that the Minister has buckled to pressure from local government leaders had been heightened by radio reports of various mayors saying they were best placed to determine the local government structure best suited to their region.

“That sounds like letting the foxes design the hen houses to me,” he said.

Mr Dunne said that while it is important to get Auckland’s governance structure right, the needs of the rest of the country should not be ignored.

“We cannot afford too great a gap between restructuring Auckland, and the rest of the country,” he said

ENDS