Letter to the Editor About Super-city

If you don't live in the Auckland region then you probably think that the Auckland SuperCity, is a great idea, about time, and all that fuss (if you've even noticed) is just Aucklanders going off and absolutely none of your business; you'd be wrong. And, if you believed that the ruthless rogering of our country (Ruther/Rogernomics) was a just a bad memory of the past thank goodness; wrong again.

Both of those were true up until a few weeks ago when National bared the tattoos on its chest for the first time. Hoping that everybody was too cold, busy, beaten down or under-informed to notice, or take heed and raise some action, the New Right has raised its banner again.

The in-haste reforms proposed in the Local Government (Auckland) Act are, without democratic consultation, plans to gut local government clearing the way for privatisation of assets and services by removing requirements to consult with the people on such key decisions - first in Auckland - then coming to a city near you soon.

This is not supposition, the Cabinet Paper exist. For example it complains about the (quote) “requirements to consult the public on some decisions – notably decisions to contract major council services to the private sector or to sell shares in a port or airport company” (para 180). It was viewable online until recently, disappearing once the link become public. Whoops!

If democracy is important to you then add your voice, make a submission. The deadline has been especially shortened by your government in the hope that you won't - 26th this month. There's now plenty of info online.

Ross Scholes

ENDS

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