NAG meets Minister to divorce super city

The Northern Action Group together with the Wellsford community group met with the Local Government Minister the Hon. Rodney Hide on December 2nd to present its case, which is to have the North Rodney Area excluded from the Auckland Council Area (so called Super city).

The Government Legislative (select) Committee had already granted this desire through the submission process but it was arbitrarily overturned on what appears extremely flimsy evidence with the passing of the LG Act in September.

The private meeting was conducted in an informal but cordial manner to which the Minister expressed his appreciation. He listened carefully to our arguments, asked a number of questions, and answered many of ours so dialogue was constructive and friendly.

He said that his personal preference was for Rodney to be ‘all in’ but after listening to our arguments he can now understand where we are coming from.

He pointed out that the decision to change the boundary is not his to make and that it is only Cabinet followed by Parliament that can make a change to the law, which is what is now needed.

In this pursuit he suggested that the best use of our petition is to present it on the steps of Parliament with as much fanfare from the media as we can conjure up. It should be publicly received by a couple of MP’s preferably our own Lockwood Smith and John Carter and added that he would be happy to be there in support as well.

Such process will ensure that it gets formally presented to Parliament and hopefully generate a debate resulting in an initiation of the amendment process.

He also recommended that the best time to present it will be early in February at the beginning of the new Parliamentary year rather than now when they are winding down and nothing much happening over the Xmas break.

This gives our two groups a little breathing space to pull out all the stops and get as many signatures as possible.

We therefore urge anyone with a little time to spare to offer their help with canvassing. Even if you only cover your street or immediate neighbours it will help. It’s a popular and therefore easy petition to canvass.

ENDS

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