Kaye Nikki: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — Second Reading Procedure In Committee 
Kaye Nikki: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — Second Reading Procedure In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6393] 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
: 
 First of all I acknowledge John Carter and also the Hon Rodney Hide for the leadership and consistent position that they have taken on this bill. The first point I will make is to say that tonight we are hearing a phoney war in Parliament. The reason we are hearing that phoney war is that the Labour Party has committed to one unitary authority—yes that is what those members believe in; that is what they have argued for at many different stages throughout the progress of this legislation through this House—but when we come to the issue of local boards we see members on the other side of the Chamber slip-sliding away. We have seen those members argue for six local entities. We have seen them argue for six to 12 local entities. Then we saw a press release from Mr Twyford arguing that there should be from 10 to 12 local entities. Now in the legislation we have seen them arguing for 14 to 20 local entities. We have seen the Labour members consistently slip-sliding on their position on Auckland governance. 
It is no wonder we are seeing a real difference between two parties: the National Party which has consistently said it wants one unitary authority and 20 to 30 local boards; and the Labour Party which is confused and has said it wants anywhere from six to 20. But the real story is that Labour supports one unitary authority. The real story is that Labour actually supports the number of local boards that is similar to what National supports. So what are Labour members debating here this evening? It is very difficult for Aucklanders listening this evening to find out because those members believe in one regional entity; they believe in 20 local boards. So what are they here arguing? We will have 12 hours of debate from a party that believes in one regional entity. Labour members believe in 20 local boards. So what are they here arguing? We will have 12 hours of debate from Labour members—they will talk about everything but those two things. They will talk about everything except having one strong regional entity because they believe in it; and having 20 local boards because they believe in it. 
We will hear arguments about everything else but I tell the Aucklanders who are listening tonight that Labour supports what National is supporting this evening. Labour supports this legislation. I challenge any Labour member to get on his or her feet tonight and argue against a unitary authority and against 20 local boards. They will not do it because they absolutely support this legislation this evening. 
The other point I make which has been made by many other members tonight is that the members of the select committee turned up and listened. They did not agree with everything that was submitted but they have shifted their position and both Ministers have acknowledged that this evening. We have seen a shifting a change in position. There are now no councillors “at large”—many people submitted against that and we listened. There is now no split in the boundary in terms of Rodney because we listened. There are now much stronger powers for the functions of boards because we listened. There is now decent funding for those local boards because we listened. So what we have here this evening are strong local entities that will be able to finally deliver for their communities and a strong regional entity for Auckland. 
The Labour Party does not disagree with that. That is the key thing we are debating this evening so what we will hear from that side of the Chamber is everything but those two core matters which are integral to the future of Auckland and to the hundreds and thousands of young people in Auckland who want to finally be connected to their communities. And that is why members on the other side of the Chamber could not turn up and vote against it. That is why they slipped from six to 20 in terms of the number of local boards. They would not turn up and vote against strong grassroots democracy. They could not turn up to this Chamber and say they would not give the people of Mount Albert a local board. They could not say they would not give the people of Papakura a local board. They were not going to do that and that is why they slipped so much. 
I am pleased to stand and support this bill. I am pleased to be here at a historic moment in Auckland’s history when we are finally delivering the unitary authority that the royal commission agreed with and that the Labour Party agrees with. I am also pleased to be supporting many local boards that will be able to deliver for their communities—finally—in Auckland. 
The other point I make concerns the tremendous contributions of Simon Bridges Jackie Blue and Tau Henare to that select committee. They are outstanding members of the committee. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I am having great difficulty hearing the member. I would like to hear what the member is saying just as I like to hear all speeches. 
Phil Twyford 
: You must be the only one. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I am standing; do not interrupt. I like to hear all speeches. I think there needs to be some courtesy here. Interjections are fine but keep the level down please. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. Your point is well made but you would also accept that this is a robust debate with a fair amount of passion in it. When buckets are thrown from one side of the Chamber and there is provocation people will respond in kind. If it is the case that we are to sit here and desist from making our counter-contribution then the member should not throw buckets across the aisle. It goes both ways. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Thank you for those comments. I have allowed a fairly free flow over the course of this debate. I am not shutting down the debate but I would like to hear what the member is saying. I know that members want to take calls. We still have a few hours to go and I am sure members will be able to express themselves and express the points they want to over the next few hours. 
NIKKI KAYE 
: I acknowledge the contribution from Simon Bridges Tau Henare and Jackie Blue. I also acknowledge the contribution from the other side of the Chamber. I acknowledge at this point that the minority report from the Labour Party actually backs up everything I have just said. Labour members will not oppose one unitary authority. There is no opposition to it anywhere in the minority report because they absolutely support it. In the minority report they show that they have shifted significantly—from six to 12 local boards to 14 to 20 local boards and we could end up in a position where both major parties agree on that number of local boards for communities in Auckland. 
So the people listening tonight can take out these messages from the debate. The first is that the Government has listened. We have listened in the area of “at large” councillors. We have listened in the area of the boundaries for Rodney. We have listened in the area of stronger functions and powers for local boards. We have listened in the area of providing decent funding for those local boards. But people listening can take this second message. The Labour Party is here to waste Parliament’s time for the next 12 hours and talk about a bill that it actually supports. I look forward to 2011 and to getting around the communities and talking to them about the fact that the Labour Party supported this legislation. This legislation will finally deliver a strong regional entity for Auckland for the communities and the young people who want to be involved in their communities. It will finally deliver the public transport system we have always wanted. I am pleased to support this legislation and I am pleased to support a Government that is making decisions unlike the Labour Party which will not make decisions. National is in Government today because we are prepared to make the hard calls and we are prepared to deliver for the people of Auckland.