Hawkins George: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hawkins George: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 17 June 2009. Volume:655;Page:4364. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8.  
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Does he consider that the Auckland Regional Council’s decision to jointly purchase the Queen’s Wharf fits within his definition of a “core service”; if not does he think that a referendum would be suitable? 
Hon JOHN CARTER (Associate Minister of Local Government) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Local Government 
: The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance identified the development of Queen’s Wharf as critical to the future of Auckland and New Zealand. The member should be aware that the definition of a “core service” is a work in progress. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: How can the Minister continue to maintain his view that councils should be required to hold referenda on major decisions when the first major decision made in the Auckland region will be sent to the Government’s hand-picked committee for approval without the people of Auckland having a say? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: The matter of core services and referenda are a work in progress. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: Will the Minister explain to the House how he reconciles his view that he would not expect local councils to be involved in property development with his council’s support of the Auckland Regional Council’s $20 million involvement in the purchase of Queen’s Wharf without the issue being put to the public by a referendum? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: The matter of Queen’s Wharf was referred to by and in the royal commission’s report but the matter of core services and the definition thereof are a work in progress. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: How does he respond to the concerns of Local Government New Zealand that this is yet another example of the Government saying to councils “Do as I say not as I do.”; or is it the case that even his colleagues are so concerned about his radical plans to strip back local government that they are getting these decisions made before his reforms are introduced? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: The simple answer to that is that the local government sector is being and will continue to be consulted on this issue as we develop it and define the matters of core services and referenda. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: Is he concerned that these actions by John Key and Murray McCully have undermined his proposals in the same way that Judith Collins is undermining his super-city proposals by suggesting that the local boards are nothing more than “tea and scone clubs”? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: Unlike the member opposite and his party this Government actually takes seriously the reorganisation of governance in Auckland. We are consulting the public of Auckland. We intend to continue consulting the public of Auckland. The public of Auckland will have an opportunity to make submissions in regard to the present bill and the third bill and to the Local Government Commission. Of course the Minister of Local Government will continue to hold public meetings across Auckland along with John Carter the Associate Minister of Local Government to ensure that there is proper consultation.