Hide Rodney: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — Second Reading Procedure In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — Second Reading Procedure In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6360] 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I will give an overview of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill: it is the second of three bills that together will result in Auckland’s regional and local affairs being governed by one mayor councillors all being elected from local wards and local boards having real authority. 
The Government has kept its eye on the goal shared by all Aucklanders which is to be a truly world-class city based on effective regional governance on regional matters and on strong local representation. Throughout we have sought one mayor one council and one plan for Auckland. That is what we will now have. We have not worried about those who confuse—and I put the Labour members in this camp—listening and being responsive with backing down. There has been no back-down on the principles we put forward when the royal commission first reported. When the Government announced its first high-level decisions the Prime Minister said that the aim was to allow Auckland to firstly think regionally; secondly plan strategically; and thirdly act decisively. That remains the goal and that is what is to be done by this bill. 
We have shown it is possible for a Government to make decisions in a way that takes account of others’ views and that is still speedy and effective. That is what good Government is about. We want local government that gets on with it and gets things done rather than just endlessly talk about it. We want local government that listens and will change its mind and will have the courage to stand by its assessment of the fundamentals. We want local government that does things in a transparent way and makes decisions in an open way. That is the sort of decision making we have seen with this bill. 
Phil Twyford 
: Like on Maori seats! 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: We were challenged by the royal commission to make the changes needed in time for elections a little over a year from now. Much to Mr Twyford’s horror this Government is on track. We are on time and unlike—as Mr Twyford admitted—the Labour Government we are delivering for Auckland. I remind listeners what Mr Twyford said Labour delivered for Auckland. 
Hon Member 
: What did they do? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: Well apart from the Hon Judith Tizard it delivered nothing. 
The report of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance was not the only thing known about the need to reform local government in Auckland. Auckland’s future has been debated for decades. In fact I say to Mr Twyford that Michael Joseph Savage stood on a one council policy in 1919. Forty years later the  
New Zealand Herald  
ran a series of articles about the need for a change. Various efforts were made but they were all too late and they were all too little. The result is the Auckland that we have today—a structure that actually has no defenders. I have not heard any party in this Parliament stand up and say that what Auckland has now is optimal or good. 
This Government will not wait. Auckland deserves better and Auckland deserves it now. The royal commission heard about endlessly increasing rates suffocating red tape transport bottlenecks delayed development and lost opportunities. This bill will not solve those problems but it will give Auckland one mayor a council and local boards with the powers structures and authority to do so. 
In an area that is home to 1.4 million people there are many diverse neighbourhoods and diverse needs. The Auckland region must be able to attract and keep people; operate efficiently; offer an unparalleled lifestyle; and enable business arts and sports to flourish. Many of the things holding Auckland back relate to the way the city is run. Important Auckland-wide matters get tangled up in the competing interest of local councils and community concerns get tangled up in the local councils’ perspective on Auckland-wide matters. It is time for a fresh approach. This is the beginning of a process that will lead to better connections across the region better value from rates and central government funding and community control of what matters in our neighbourhoods. The price of doing nothing is far too high not just for Auckland but for all New Zealanders. Let us make Auckland this great place even greater. Let us make Greater Auckland great. 
The Auckland region has tremendous natural advantages. One-third of New Zealand’s population lives there in an outstanding natural environment and it is New Zealand’s principal business centre and gateway to the world. But there are weaknesses and these decisions are all about addressing them. Those weaknesses are due to the structure of governance in the region with competing leadership duplication of facilities complex and fragmented decision-making processes and weak accountability. That is what these bills will fix. The functions that require region-wide decision-making must have governance arrangements that meet that need thus the move to a single city. Just as important the functions that are best performed at the local level should have advocacy in decision making at that local level. That is why we have strengthened community representation. 
There were 3500 submissions to the royal commission there were 2500 to the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee and there has been intense media coverage. I and the Associate Minister the Hon John Carter have fronted up to meetings so too have Cabinet Ministers and so too have Government MPs. We have fronted up to meetings news conferences and interviews. Our decisions and the Cabinet papers leading to them have been published. Every possible criticism has been made. Every possible position has been supported. Everyone has been able to have a say. We will meet the challenge of the royal commission to have the new Auckland Council in place for next year’s elections. 
Through this process Aucklanders have shown that they care passionately about their region. As a consequence I have every confidence that the new structures will bring forward people able to give Auckland and its communities the representation they so desperately need to create a world-class city. Thank you.