Hawkins George:  
Hawkins George:  
[Volume:654;Page:71] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 I want to speak on Part 2 of the Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill which establishes the Auckland Council. This part establishes a territorial authority for Auckland to be known as the Auckland Council. 
It is interesting that when I got up to speak this morning Government members were all smiles. I do not know what has happened during the day but now they have lost that sparkle. They do not that sparkle any more—it has gone. One thing is for sure: the Government may be able to walk over people’s democratic rights out in the public but it cannot trample on the rights of Parliament as its members have learnt over the last 12 hours. I think that fact is very important because Parliament has to examine and look after the interests of Auckland. The Government can form a new council. It can join together all these different councils and buildings and call it Auckland Council. But Melissa Lee forgot the other ingredient: people. You must bring people together. Do you do it by saying in Mt Albert that all the crooks come from South Auckland and into Mt Albert? Saying that will not help. We are trying to build this Auckland Council together. When you try to do that you have to take the people with you. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: You cannot bring the Chair into the debate. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I am sorry Mr Chairperson. 
The Government cannot build the Auckland Council in this way. Did the Auckland councils of Waitakere Manukau Papakura North Shore Rodney Auckland City or the Auckland region get the opportunity to say what Auckland’s new council should be called? They did not. Did anyone ask them? No. This bill is being pushed through in the dead of night by a Government that does not actually believe in democracy. The Government will give them the opportunity to have a select committee hearing on the second bill which is all about the rats and mice. When that bill is considered the select committee will be arguing over who will give out the key to the hall and who will clean the toilets in the hall. 
This bill of course looks at the formation of Auckland Council. Did the Government go and talk to the Maori population about what Auckland’s council should be called? It did not. It is absolute arrogance that the Government decides all of this for everyone. That will not go down well. They will not like the name “Auckland Council” in South Auckland. 
I hear that Dr Paul Hutchison— 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: An excellent member! 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: He is an excellent member because he actually says that the people in his electorate are afraid of this legislation. Sir William Birch known to us all as Bill Birch used to be in Parliament. He is not very keen on being dragged into Auckland. He might have worked for Auckland City; he might have worked for John Banks in the past. But he is not very keen to be dragged into Auckland. That is true of many places. 
When legislation is brought to this House without proper consultation it causes splits in the community. It causes splits in the Government. I wonder what Dr Paul Hutchison will say to Sir William Birch. Dr Hutchison just sat there and let a few little votes go by. He was not here most of the time. Now he sits there with a sheepish grin on his face.