Carmel Sepuloni
List MP

23 April 2009 Media Statement

Council’s Pacific Fono should debate the real issue

The Auckland City Council’s intention to hold a Pacific Fono about its draft ten year plan is ridiculous considering it won’t be around for much longer and the event should instead be used as a forum to discuss the Super City, says Labour list MP Carmel Sepuloni.

“The fono is planned for May 11 and is to be chaired by Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, who is also an MP in the National Government.

“The fono is reportedly being held to discuss the council’s $3.5 billion investment into capital projects, but what is the point when Auckland City as we currently know it, will soon cease to exist?

“The much more important issue for Auckland’s Pacific community right now is the proposed Super City and the threat posed by the Government’s planned structure which will take the ‘local’ out of local government,” says Carmel Sepuloni.

“The council should be holding fono on this issue and seeking advice from our communities to assist them in shaping governance structures and processes that are inclusive and fair to all the different groups that have made Auckland their home.

“Sam Lotu-Iiga needs to rethink the purpose of the fono and focus it on the Super City instead. Wearing his National MP hat, he could also take the time to explain to our Pacific communities exactly how he thinks the governance proposal will benefit them.

“He ought to understand that this is not business as usual for the Auckland City Council. It’s frankly insulting to hold a fono on a 10 year spending programme by a council which will soon no longer exist, while ignoring the substantive issue people are worried about.”

ENDS

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