Nash Stuart: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
Nash Stuart: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:663;Page:11565] 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 I have lived in Auckland for a long time. In 2005 I stood against Rodney Hide in Epsom and we all knew what Rodney Hide was about. We all knew where his political philosophy came from. It was always about privatisation. This legislation was not a hidden secret agenda. One just had to read the ACT Party manifesto. It came from Sir Roger Douglas who came from the 1980s and it was all about privatisation. If the people of Auckland are surprised that suddenly Auckland is about to be privatised through a whole series of council-controlled organisations then—goodness me—why did they not read the ACT manifesto? We knew what it was about. I knew what this was about. 
I have just been to a function at the Italian Embassy and it was a fine function. Democracy existed in Italy 2000 years ago. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: How many times has this member visited Auckland? 
STUART NASH 
: They knew about the principles of democracy; this bloke opposite who quotes 1960s music in the House does not. That is last generation. We are the new generation that believes in the power of one person one vote. We believe in democracy collaboration and transparency. The Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill represents everything that the 21st century generation does not stand for. It astounds me that we have got to this stage. 
I am from Napier. I am from the provinces. I saw the light and I went back there. After living in Auckland for 15 years I went back to the provinces. We in the provinces are watching what happens with this bill. We are damned scared that this bill will set a precedent for what happens all over New Zealand. We can see what is happening and we can see the lack of process. Up and down the country people are worried. Rodney Hide said that the legislation will not go further than Auckland. Well John Key said that he was not going to raise GST. We cannot believe anything that is said any more and we are worried because the lack of democracy that this bill promotes is astounding. It harks back to earlier days to an era that we do not want to go back to. There is no doubt about that. 
I thought we had moved away from these times. I am talking about council-controlled organisations. The people of New Zealand are grouped around communities. If we lose that sense of community we get a whole population that is disenfranchised and feels that it does not have a part to play in the governance of its local community of its area of its borough and of its city. That is happening with the passage of this bill. It is not what the people of New Zealand demanded and it is not what they require. Without a doubt this is a backwards step for Auckland. I have grave concerns about this bill. 
Members cannot tell me that 35 years is not privatisation. That is a Rip Van Winkle moment. Do members know why Rip Van Winkle slept for 35 years? It was because that was a lifetime. Times change. Things change in 35 years. People lose their power they become disenfranchised and they lose sight of the democratic process which is what New Zealand was founded upon. We are a young country and we value the principle and the philosophy of democracy. That is our pioneering spirit; it is what we believe in it is what we stand up for and it is certainly what the Labour Party— 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. It must have been a wonderfully convivial time at the Italian Embassy— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: If the member has a point of order he should raise the point of order and not cast aspersions on anybody. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I was not. I am just making the point that the member is talking about the wrong bill. This is the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill. The issue of 35 years is in the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill which is currently before the select committee. He is talking about the wrong bill. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: The debate has perhaps got a little wider than the confines of the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill and this member is not the first to transgress. I would appreciate members speaking on the bill. 
STUART NASH 
: The point I was making overall was that this whole Auckland reorganisation represents a loss of democracy a loss of that feeling that New Zealanders—Aucklanders—control the process and that they have a part to play in their community. The vast majority of New Zealanders believe that they have a role to play in their city which is their home their community where they bring up their children and where they grow old. I and everyone I have spoken to in the community feel—and certainly Labour members feel—that this is not the way forward for our largest city. 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: Some of your best friends are Aucklanders right? 
STUART NASH 
: I challenge that member over there to organise a public meeting in the largest hall he can find in his electorate to explain how this bill and all the Auckland bills will be good for his constituents. I challenge that member and I guarantee that Mr Phil Twyford Jacinda Ardern and all the Auckland MPs will turn up and will counter any argument that member has. Do members know why he is so loud? It is because he knows he is in the wrong.