Media statement
Friday, September 4th, 2009

Auckland supercity on track

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (Northern) is pleased with progress on the Auckland Council Bill reported back to Parliament, and with the pace it's being expedited.

"The decision making powers that the 20-30 local boards in the Auckland city region are to be given is an excellent recommendation," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"That the local boards should be independently funded is a first class recommendation too.

"The core focus of the Auckland Council must be kept on the city's region wide issues, and that's on track.

"We favour 20 local boards; 30 is too many.

"But by and large we're very pleased with all the report's recommendations bar two. "They are the absence of seats reserved for elected Maori representatives on the Council, and the shifting of the northern boundary of the city's region. We cannot understand that. There's no sense in it. Moving the southern boundary may work if it is based on effective consultation with the people affected by it.

"The new super city governance structure will provide an exciting big boost for Auckland."

ENDS

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