Hawkins George: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
Hawkins George: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:663;Page:11449] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 The Local Government (Law Reform) Bill which is now at the Committee stage is a long way along the track of a very lengthy process. We remember that last year a bill was passed under urgency without the public having a referendum or a say in what was happening to their seven local bodies and their regional council. Since that time the Labour Opposition has worked constructively to make sure we get the best legislation we can out of the changes that are happening to Auckland. That does not mean to say that we agree with the legislation; in fact we bitterly disagree on many parts. But I must say that Labour and the Greens have really worked constructively to try to improve it. 
What has disappointed me in deliberations on this present bill is that there has been virtually no representation from the Maori Party. One member popped into the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee for a few minutes to put in a minority report from that party. I think that is one of the things that is troubling Aucklanders because the Maori issue is a very big issue. If one lives in Auckland and sees the make-up of the people there then I think that it can be seen that Maori people have been harshly treated—not only by the Government but also by one of its key members the Maori Party. We hear the two aspirants for the mayoral job talk about that. 
Of course what people in Auckland do not like and do not understand is how seven local authorities can change in such a way that about 75 percent of their work will be taken up by council-controlled organisations. People think that that amount of rate money will be spent in a way that is not very clear. I remember Auckland City Council making charitable payments many years ago whereby some money would be sent “under the counter”. That was not transparent. That is one of the things that people are concerned about—that there should be sufficient transparency. To that end I have lodged a Supplementary Order Paper which I will talk about a little later on that will make sure all of the seven council-controlled organisations have meetings so that the public can understand more fully their roles in the governance of Auckland. 
There are many people in Auckland who are very keen about what is about to happen. They are not keen in the sense that they necessarily like it but in the sense that they are keen to find out more. I mean people like Penny Bright. If she goes to every council-controlled organisation meeting and gets arrested many times plenty of people will be saying “Good old Penny.” We need people who keep an eye on things. That is one of the great things about democracy. We have people who keep an eye on things. We need people to be determined not to let their rights be swept under the table. 
It was really good on the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee because there was a very good partnership that meant we could work together to make sure that ordinary people who came along in vast numbers were heard. They were not necessarily understood or their points taken up by everyone but they were listened to. I think it was one of the best select committees from the point of view of listening to people. The Labour Party most certainly got its membership well acquainted with the problems that Auckland faces and with the change to something vastly different. This is a huge change to local government. I suppose the 1989 changes are—