Hawkins George: Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill — Third Reading 
Hawkins George: Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:654;Page:3722] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 This has been a black day for New Zealand and the date on the calendar in this House is still showing 13 May. Of course the only person who really likes that fact is the Leader of the House: he gets four breakfasts four lots of morning teas four snacks four lunches four afternoon teas four dinners and four suppers. He is the only person on the National side who has liked what has happened this week. I am surprised that it took National members so long to work out how to deal with amendments in the Committee stage. I was getting writer’s cramp thinking they must catch on soon—they must work this out soon but no. We saw John Carter running back and forth to the Chamber— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: He had the trots. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: —then running to the Clerk’s Office backwards and forwards. As my friend Mr Clayton Cosgrove says he must have had the trots. No he was going flat stick to the Clerk’s Office and in the end National members and their colleagues woke up to it. 
The trouble is that tomorrow most New Zealanders will wake up to it and they will know that they have not had the opportunity to have a say in this legislation. They have been betrayed—absolutely betrayed. John Key has run around the country saying that he has listened; he did not come to the Chamber to listen to a word of this debate yet it has gone on for 4 days. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: He is busy at proselytising for South Auckland. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Ha ha—yes! I have in my hand a newspaper advertisement by the National Party and I am interested that it states: “Have your say on Auckland local government”. Who is paying for that? The National Party is not; the Parliamentary Service is paying. Who will pay for the changes in local government in Auckland? The National Party will not pay; the ratepayers of Auckland will pay for that of course. That will cost a huge amount of money and 1.4 million Aucklanders will pay. And those who live in Manukau will not have much say at all; the people in Manukau will not be able to get people elected to this council because the intention in the legislation is to make sure that the blue-rinse brigade and their friends get elected to the council instead of ordinary New Zealanders. Members may say that that issue is covered in the next bill to be debated. 
The mayors have been really trying to get people to understand the seriousness of what is happening to them. On Monday a week ago there was a meeting in Papakura and they put out a thousand seats and over a thousand people were there; John Carter fronted. Over recent weeks Judith Collins has had a few words to say but members ought to hear what people say about her. She will not win Papakura next time—oh no she will not. The Mayor of Papakura is disgusted at what she has done—MPs cannot talk down to people. Even in Franklin they are disgusted. They are absolutely disgusted in the Hunua electorate. When people have a look around they wonder what is in it for them. Yes there may be a better form of local government for Auckland but the Government should tell that to the people who have lost their jobs over the last few weeks and to the people who have lost their overtime and cannot afford to pay their costs. This Government does not want to pay for this change and I think that that is absolutely disgusting. 
We have a situation in Manurewa—and I am sure it is the same in Manukau East and it would be true of my friend’s seat of Mangere—where people have been shattered this week by this Government. It is not just because of the effects of this legislation but it is a whole feeling of what National is doing to them. National seems to be all about getting out there and selling a message. I can tell members opposite that not all the people of South Auckland will be rushing along the motorway to go and rob people in Mt Albert but that is Melissa Lee’s contribution to all of this. Well that is not good enough. She speaks for the National Party for the hearts and souls of the National Party. She tells us what they really believe. They believe that people in South Auckland do not count for much. Well I have to tell National members that they do. South Auckland people are the salt of the earth; they are the best people. 
But have those people had a chance to have their say? Not from the Government they have not. My friend the member for Mangere my other colleague the member for Manukau East and I have put out referenda and the responses have been pouring back in. People think the Government has not consulted on this issue—90 percent of them in my case. They think the Government has not talked to them or put them in the loop. Those sorts of people in South Auckland think that National members look down their noses at them and think they do not matter. Well for me they do matter. But this bill is saying to people: “We have robbed you of your democracy. We haven’t given you the chance.” As Opposition members we have had to use our time to make sure those people can be heard—to put up plenty of amendments to the bill and to keep the debate going in the Chamber—because the Government cannot trample over the rights of this House. They may trample over the rights of people out there— 
Louise Upston 
: How many George—how many did you do? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The lady from Taupo is screaming out. 
Hon Members 
: How many amendments? Tell us! 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Listen to them; they do not care. There is another one: the three-blonde trio! I have to say that the person in National of all the backbenchers who has spent the most time in the Chamber is Allan Peachey. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Who? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Allan Peachey. But what did he say? He stood up once or twice and said a few words but it was not with any passion. But at least he stood up and had something to say. But when did the others have something to say? Well people can go to Papatoetoe on 9 June at 7 p.m. and hear the member Mr Bakshi address people. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: The silent one. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: He sat in the Chamber in the corner over there for 3 days and said nought. 
Amy Adams 
: He’s listening—he’s a good listener. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: He is a fine listener and he is a fine dealer a wheeler-dealer to be sure but I do not know whether he will be able to wheel and deal Auckland some democracy. 
In the end people have a right to know. The elderly are scared that they are losing something—they are losing their local council and that is very important to them. But more important people feel they are losing their mayor as a figurehead in their community. They will lose their leaders. Auckland does not have so many leaders that it can afford to put that number on the scrap heap. I think that that is one of the things people must think about. And the bill does not really look after the workers who are affected. What will happen to those 6000 workers? My bet is that once the new council is up and running they will be joining the dole queues. They will be coming into our offices and saying: “We’ve lost our jobs. The Government didn’t keep its word.” I think that that is something that will hang around for the National Party until the next election. 
Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.