Hawkins George: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
Hawkins George: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:663;Page:11467] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 I think that one of the very important things that have not been mentioned so far tonight is how much this process will cost Aucklanders. Not only is it costing their own local representation but it has cost $200 million so far. 
Hon Members 
: How much? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The change is costing Aucklanders—not the Government—$200 million. When we sat in the motel in Parnell in Auckland and heard the submissions and saw Nikki Kaye running up afterwards to anyone from her electorate and saying soothing things and how hard she would work to make changes the Government was rattling through the purses and wallets of Aucklanders to find $200 million for the transition. It is really important to know that people are being made to buy into something they would normally say they did not want if they were asked. 
It is interesting that we have a Government that is rushing this bill through but I think that if it were really listening it would make more changes to the bill. I have put forward amendments to increase the public accountability of all council-controlled organisations of the Auckland Council. That is very very important. People want to have some say on that. I have been in politics a long while—3 years as a councillor 9 years as a mayor and 20 years as an MP—and one thing I have learnt is that Tories always believe in doing deals behind closed doors. 
Hon Members 
: That’s right. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: That is right; they always do. The Government has a mishmash situation where three of the crown-controlled organisations will have a say and the others will not. My amendments will bring some accountability. Some people might be disaffected but if they are involved that is better. 
David Bennett 
: No! 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Last night that member from one of the Hamilton seats was struggling when he was talking to people in Papakura. He really struggled and he started to make up some of his answers on which I took quite a few notes. 
We want to make sure that this process is as open as possible. When we have a Government that is appointing council-controlled organisations before the new Auckland Council has even started then people become suspicious. In Auckland lots of people are suspicious of the Government. I say to the Government that this will make them more suspicious because they believe in being able to talk to their local people. What powers will the local people have? They do not know yet. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Maori seats? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: What will happen about Maori representation? We on this side believe very firmly that there should be Maori representation. I have to admire Tau Henare who on the second Auckland governance bill went with Shane Jones as a subcommittee—and I think even Hone Harawira was there—around marae to get their views. But no the Maori Party now thinks that it is more important to go to New York than to Auckland. I think those members should be ashamed of that. 
We have the opportunity to try to make this bill even better. There were a lot of changes during the time from when the bill came into the House until it was reported back but those changes are not sufficient to make Aucklanders feel confident and to make Aucklanders feel they are getting something that will be better. Yes Aucklanders know there are plenty of things wrong with their local government at the moment. People in Papakura know that an 11 percent rate increase this year is outrageous but they do not know yet about the $200 million they will have to cough up to help pay for the transition. That is something that I really think people should be aware of. 
As we move forward I think that this debate will widen and that we will see some National people who were on the select committee getting up and speaking. We have not seen many of them do that yet but I think we should see that.