Beaumont Carol: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
Beaumont Carol: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:663;Page:11490] 
CAROL BEAUMONT (Labour) 
: 
 Talofa lava. I want to go back to a point that was made by I think my colleague Lynne Pillay. In my earlier contribution I acknowledged the work of Aucklanders in trying to have a say on this legislation. Submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill were called for in late December and people had to 12 February to make a submission. I want to put that on record because if the Government were serious about listening to Aucklanders then it would have given Aucklanders a far better opportunity than that to make submissions. As we all know that period included Christmas and New Year and everybody was on holiday. Despite that we ended up with 786 submissions the overwhelming majority of which were opposed to the bill. Furthermore the polling that has been done to date also shows strong opposition to it. I find it quite offensive that members opposite talk about their in-box being full of support for the bill and say that everybody they talk to thinks this is a wonderful day for Auckland. That absolutely ignores the reality of the submissions the polls and what people on the ground are saying. 
One of the areas that people are particularly concerned about is the corporatisation of local government and the so-called—and misnamed in my opinion—council-controlled organisations or CCOs. That is still a significant problem with this bill. The Government can dress it up in whatever way it wants tweak around the edges put on a few little fancy public meetings and everything else but that does not change the cold hard reality that Aucklanders have been given no choice—none at all—about which if any of the operations of the Auckland Council are to be run by arm’s-length commercial entities. That has been decided for them and they do not want it. I say “they” but I should say “we”. I am an Aucklander and I do not want it either. The extent to which Auckland local government is being corporatised as a result of the Government’s actions and the bill that we are now debating is unique in New Zealand local government. 
Labour is certainly unpersuaded that that should be done in Auckland. We believe that decisions about these matters should be made by an elected Auckland Council not by the National Government ramming through changes in this legislation. In fact the Minister of Local Government admits—he admitted it in a Cabinet paper—that the council-controlled organisations will play a greater role in service delivery for the Auckland Council than for any other council in the country. 
Why is that? Why should Aucklanders have their local government corporatised? Will Auckland continue to be unique or is this an example of what is to come for the rest of New Zealand? For people listening out there I say be very very aware that this is what will happen throughout local government. Seventy-five percent—I repeat: 75 percent—of council activities and assets will be kept at arm’s length from our elected representatives. 
The Government can dress it up in whatever way it wants but that is corporatisation. And these are huge council-controlled organisations in the case of Auckland. They have been created by the Government and they will wield much of the power in the new Auckland. Of course as we all know at the moment those organisations’ members are being appointed by Rodney Hide. That very moderate person who is sure to be looking after the best interests of all Aucklanders is busy filling up those council-controlled organisations with his mates and they will control 75 per cent of council activities and assets. That is just plain wrong. 
The media comment on this is interesting. I noticed before a quite hearty reading of a Bernard Orsman article. Yes he said: “Super City u-turn: People power wins” and I do not agree with the article but when he summarised the main changes this is what he said about the council-controlled organisations. Members should ask themselves whether it sounds significant to them. He said that the council-controlled organisations will hold public meetings. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: May. 
CAROL BEAUMONT 
: Oh is it “may”? It is even weaker: they may hold public meetings. Well that sounds really significant. He said that Rodney Hide will—maybe it should be “may”—consult mayors on the directors of the council-controlled organisations. So Rodney will consult about which of his mates he will appoint. He also said that the Auckland Council will appoint the chairs and deputy chairs of the council-controlled organisations. Well that is a slightly stronger position and it is better but those comments are made in a positive article about the changes being made in this bill.