Baldock Larry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Baldock Larry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8618] 
12.  
LARRY BALDOCK (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Does he continue to stand by his statement that “As Minister of Local Government it is my responsibility and indeed my privilege to act as an advocate for local government.”? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I do. I am only too pleased to say that as Minister of Local Government I advocate local decision-making by and on behalf of communities. That is the purpose of local government and on that basis I can say that I am privileged to perform my responsibilities as Minister. 
Larry Baldock 
: As advocate for local government is the Minister concerned that developing by-laws to control brothels in response to the prostitution legislation will push rates up even further when for Auckland City Council alone the initial phase cost $35000 or is that just another case of local government having to pick up the tab for bad law? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: The Local Government Act 2002 requires councils to engage with their communities in decision making. Local by-laws relating to the sex industry should have public input. Whatever initial costings may occur in that consultation process will be balanced by agreed long-term local solutions to the issues of location and operation. 
Martin Gallagher 
: What steps has the Minister recently taken to engage with local government? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I regularly meet mayors and councillors. Over the last month I have attended a number of Local Government New Zealand meetings. I spoke to the Society of Local Government Managers conference in Palmerston North last Sunday and I am currently arranging a forum between Ministers and Auckland mayors and chief executives to discuss a range of issues relating to the Auckland region. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: What is the point of all this engagement hui and meeting with local government when the Government takes absolutely no notice of that engagement; when one looks at the extra cost of the dog control legislation the proposed building control legislation the prostitution legislation and now the gambling regulatory functions what is the point? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: No Government has had more engagement with local government than this one. One very obvious example is the 6-monthly local government forums where the Prime Minister meets mayors and councillors. It is a very positive and productive relationship. 
Gordon Copeland 
: As the advocate for local government what is the Minister’s response to the inquiry from the Auckland City Council asking why the prostitution legislation keeps secret the names of those holding brothel-keeping certificates when individuals and businesses seeking liquor licences have to advertise their names; and is that not a perverse and most unsatisfactory state of affairs for local government bodies and the communities they govern? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: The Local Government Act 2002 contains clear bylaw-making powers that provide local government with full power over signage and location. Of course fees can cover the costs of those applications. 
Gordon Copeland 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was not about signage; it was about those people who hold brothel-keeping certificates having to keep that information secret. That information is not available to the public. I also asked the Minister whether he thought that was a perverse and unsatisfactory state of affairs. I do not believe that he addressed my question in his answer. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Perhaps that part of the question could be addressed. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I will acknowledge that I did become confused with that question; perhaps the volume of noise in the House made it a bit difficult to hear properly. That requirement was passed by a majority of members in this House. It had the support of this Parliament. 
Larry Baldock 
: As advocate for local government does he concur with the view of Juliet Yates the chairwoman of the Auckland City Council’s city development committee that the legalisation of prostitution has handed the council a job it did not want which is a view supported by councillor Noeline Raffills who intends formally to express to the Government the council’s concern that it has to administer the new Act; if not why not? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I would like to remind those councillors quoted that the sex industry already existed in Auckland—probably from the foundation of the city—but at least now the city has greater control over the industry and health and safety issues can be addressed. 
Rodney Hide 
: Why will the Minister not become an advocate for ratepayers and support my bill going to the select committee thus giving ratepayers a chance to tell Parliament what they think about rate increases and what they think about this Minister? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Local Government New Zealand has given me a clear message that it does not support Mr Hide’s bill. I was thinking about that as he asked the question and I remind him how we dialogue so well with other organisations. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not appreciate people shouting out like that. It is unbecoming and unnecessary. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The suggestion that Local Government New Zealand is on the take is an obscene suggestion. I ask that it be withdrawn and apologised for by Mr Hide. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: The first point is that Local Government New Zealand is not part of this House so one can say what one likes about it. The second point is that local government itself is putting up the rates and the Minister has indicated to the House that he does not give a hoot about the public. He is interested in his fellow politicians only. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member’s first point of order was valid. What is said about people outside this House is a matter of taste as far as this Parliament is concerned. 
Larry Baldock 
: As advocate for local government will the Minister give his full support to councils—Kapiti Rodney and others—that wish to ban completely prostitution from their areas by means of their bylaw-making powers and also to the Auckland City Council which wishes to seize the initiative to propose restrictive by-laws; if not why not? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I will continue to dialogue with local government and encourage it to seek local solutions to local problems. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This Minister was asked whether he would support those councils seeking to ban prostitution within their boundaries. To get up and say he is going to keep on dialoguing with them—which must be a horrifying experience for all of them—is simply not good enough. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Horrifying it might be but the answer did address the question.