Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:659;Page:8380] 
12.  
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: What did Cabinet decide in response to his recommendation that the provisions of the Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Act 2004 protecting the Ports of Auckland shares from disposal be repealed? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 Although Cabinet has decided to repeal the Auckland Regional Holdings provisions in the Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Act 2004 and bring those assets under the general council-controlled organisation provisions of the Local Government Act 2002 it has also placed a statutory moratorium on the sale of any shareholdings including the port shares until after the first long-term council community plan is completed by the new council in July 2012. 
Phil Twyford 
: Does he stand by his statement to Cabinet that these protections—the ones in the Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Act—relate to “the sensitivity at the time surrounding the potential sale of the ports of Auckland”; if so on what basis does he believe Aucklanders have changed their minds and no longer want a referendum on the privatisation of their ports? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Yes; the reason is that I have trust in Auckland people. We have had on numerous occasions Mr Twyford claim that the Government’s reforms are all about privatisation. On 9 June it was swimming pools on 12 July it was libraries on 20 July it was housing on 29 October it was the waterfront and on 9 November it was water. All these claims have been proven to be false. I understand that the Public Service Association has been concerned about them and has spoken to the Labour Party because of the upset that is being caused among council staff by the false allegations that are being made by the member. 
Phil Twyford 
: How does the Minister reconcile his advocacy for referenda on rates capping with his desire to repeal the law that requires a referendum before the port shares can be sold off? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Easily. 
Phil Twyford 
: Does he stand by his statement that the privatisation of local assets is “a pretend debate” when Cabinet has decided to lift the restrictions on privatising the ports of Auckland and when the Government has decided to allow private companies to own water infrastructure for up to 35 years and to repeal the requirement that councils consult the public before they contract out public services to the private sector? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Yes I do. This Government is different from the previous one in that we trust local government and the people of Auckland. I suggest to the member that he tries that. I know it is hard for him because they rejected him on the North Shore his own party rejected him in Mt Albert and he has been rejected— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: —in Auckland Central and he will be rejected— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I say to the Hon Rodney Hide that it is not acceptable to keep talking when the Speaker is on his feet and it was unnecessary to add the last part to that answer. That was just personal criticism which is not helpful to the order of the House. 
Phil Twyford 
: Does the Minister stand by his statement that he wants to see the privatisation of the ports of Auckland? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Not as the Minister. I suggest to Mr Twyford that in order to understand this issue he consults his party’s spokesperson on local government the Hon George Hawkins who understands the local government provisions in the Local Government Act 2002.