Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:633;Page:5197] 
5.  
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: What progress has he made on establishing the “independent inquiry into issues around local government rates funding” that he announced on 23 August? 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 The Government is discussing the terms of reference for the inquiry with a range of parties and consultation is progressing well. 
Rodney Hide 
: Which political parties has the Minister consulted with on the terms of reference for this inquiry and on what dates? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Between myself and officials or staff from our party there have been a number of consultations. I do not have the dates with me but I am happy to supply them. In fact we are meeting one way or another with any party that has expressed an interest—[ 
Interruption 
] including I say to Dr Smith Mr Carter from his own party later today. Unfortunately the ACT party has not expressed any interest in having a meeting. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Can the Minister assure the ratepayers of New Zealand that the inquiry will in fact deal with the issues that concern them unlike Mr Hide’s poorly drafted bill which pandered to popularism but provided no real solutions? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Indeed and that is entirely why those parties that have a genuine interest are being consulted with and I particularly refer to the member’s own—unlike Mr Hide’s bill which as the member said would have resulted in communities facing a decline in infrastructure over time had it progressed. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that as we approach the end of cheap oil it is important that the rates inquiry examines the amount that local government and therefore ratepayers are having to spend on public transport and the need for more central government assistance for public transport infrastructure; and can he confirm that this important issue will be considered in the forthcoming inquiry? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I can confirm to the member that it is important that pertinent issues relating to local government funding are addressed in the inquiry which is exactly why we are consulting parties such as the Greens New Zealand First United Future and so on on this important matter. 
Mark Blumsky 
: Will the independent inquiry into issues around local government rates funding investigate the effect of Government-imposed compliance costs on rate increases given comments made by the Vice-President of Local Government New Zealand the Mayor of Wellington Kerry Prendergast that it has a huge impact and that those compliance costs have placed a huge burden on some local authorities and given the evaluation of the Wellington City Council on costs imposed by central government of just to name two $1.75 million for the Building Act and $220000 for the Dog Control Act? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I would respond to the member by saying that a factual analysis of the long-term community plan shows that 70 percent of the expected expenditure will go on core infrastructure and a further 18 percent will go on core community amenities. I have to say that of the supposed list of Acts that have brought such costs to local government—and that is typical of the misinformation we have seen from that member’s party—as I pointed out yesterday some 28 of them carry no cost at all. I refer to legislation such as the amendment to the Dog Control Act which included hearing-ear dogs and allows dogs that provide safety assistance for the Deaf to be in places where dogs are normally not allowed. That is the sort of measure that that member’s party seems to be criticising when in fact the legislation is a response to the stated needs of the community and often of local government itself. 
Mark Blumsky 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. My question concerned the independent inquiry into issues not the spending that came out of the long-term council community plan process and at no stage did the Minister raise or address the issue of the inquiry. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: But your supplementary question did raise those matters and in all supplementary questions when a member raises more than one thought it is for the Minister to select the thought to address in that question. So I am sorry but that is not a valid point of order. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Does he agree that it is unfair that State highways—for example Wellington’s inner-city bypass whose sole purpose is to move Wellingtonians who drive cars a few hundred metres—are 100 percent funded by central government but that say improving the rail services on the Kapiti line has to be 50 percent funded by local ratepayers; and can he therefore assure the House that this blatant inequity in local government transport funding will be considered in the upcoming inquiry? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: It would hardly be credible of me to assure the member of every detail of the inquiry while we are still engaging in good-faith consultation with the parties. But I can assure the member that that process will provide the opportunity as it is doing already for parties to put forward their particular concerns that are relevant to the purpose of the inquiry. 
Rodney Hide 
: What is the timetable for announcing the terms of reference and who will be conducting this well-thought-through principled inquiry which is designed to deliver real gains for ratepayers up and down New Zealand or is the Minister not sufficiently organised to even tell us when he will have the terms of reference done? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: I anticipate that part of the process for the terms of reference will be complete this month but it is important not to put an artificial deadline on something as important as this when we are committed to consulting properly with a range of parties. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: Did the Minister read any reports or media statements where Mr Hide acknowledged that his recent member’s bill was an inadequate attempt to address the issues behind rates increases stating: “I do not pretend that my bill has all the answers.”? 
Hon MARK BURTON 
: Yes I did read such a report and I can say only that on this rare occasion I have to agree with that member.