Pippa Brown attends a local meeting where residents say the National government's idea of an Auckland Super City has been rail roaded through.
Super City a ‘bigger public trough for bigger public snouts’
Caption: Public watchdog Penny Bright with MP John Carter at Ellerslie War Memorial Hall.
Auckland’s report on local governance is “fundamentally flawed”, says water pressure group media spokesperson Penny Bright.
Bright told a meeting of Auckland residents there had never been a cost-benefit analysis of either the Super City or proposed council-controlled organisation model.
Around 80 people attended the public meeting at Ellerslie War Memorial Hall, one of a series held by the Government, to share views on the proposed changes to councils and the planned Super City.
The council-controlled organisation model is undemocratic because the board is selected not elected, says Bright.
The public cannot go to meetings and they have no say on its statement of intent, she says.
Bright says the report recommends $28 billion of Aucklanders’ assets be transferred.
She calls it a “corporate coup and asset grab”.
“The Super City is a bigger public trough for bigger public snouts,” says Bright. She is concerned smaller contractors will be replaced by big multinational companies.
She wants more transparency in the process as well as the details of public contracts to be available for public scrutiny.
Associate Minister of Local Government John Carter and National MP Peseta Sam Lotu-liga were at the meeting.
“It is not the intention of this Government to interfere with the assets of Auckland,” says Carter.
He agrees that more work needs to be done on the council-controlled organisation model. Carter says the speed of the process is to give a level of certainty.
“We do think there has been sufficient time to consult and do things properly,” he says.
Ellerslie resident 80-year-old Robin Gray spoke on behalf of many of the people at the meeting.
“People of Auckland have been robbed of their democratic right to vote.
“People should have their final say,” he said.
Earlier this month the Green Party released a statement saying although the Government had no plans to privatise water it was not ruling out local councils doing that.
The Government has adopted the Royal Commission’s recommendations for the Auckland council of one unitary authority and one plan, and this first-stage bill was passed under urgency in May.
The current series of meetings is being held to understand what the people of Auckland want in the makeup of the Auckland council and local boards supporting it.
The Government has proposed a structure for the Auckland Council with 12 councillors elected from wards and eight elected at large, supported by up to 30 local boards.
It is asking the public to send submissions for the second bill to go through a select committee by September.
A further and final bill is to be introduced into Parliament later this year before the local body elections in 2010.
By Pippa Brown ⋅ May 28, 2009 ⋅
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