Hide Rodney: Urgent Debates — Royal Commission on Auckland Governance—Government Response 
Hide Rodney: Urgent Debates — Royal Commission on Auckland Governance—Government Response 
[Volume:653;Page:2522] 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 This debate is important because it is about the governance of Auckland for the next 50 to 100 years. I welcome the contribution that the Leader of the Opposition Mr Phil Goff made and I look forward to working with him other members of the Labour Party and other parties to make sure that we do what is right for Auckland and for the wider country. The thing that drove us through this as a Government—always at every turn and for every decision—was what is best for Auckland not just now but for the next 50 to 100 years. 
Let me go through this. The local boards are about democracy and local democracy. The Auckland Council is about good governance. In 2010 as a consequence of the decisions that this Government made Aucklanders will get to vote in the most important local body election ever held in New Zealand. They can vote for a mayor with real power to make a difference. When have they been able to do that before? They can vote for councillors accountable to all of Auckland. When have they been able to do that before? They can vote for councillors from their local ward and they can vote for local board representatives who for the first time will have the force of law behind their advocacy for their communities—previous Governments never provided that. The elections in 2010 will be a celebration of democracy for Auckland. 
These changes mean more democracy better local representation better accountability and most important better governance. As the Prime Minister said yesterday we have introduced “a simple and effective system for making regional decisions and implementing them smoothly.” “Our plan will allow Auckland’s civic leaders to think regionally plan strategically and act decisively in a way that has not happened for the past six decades”. Our plan serves Auckland’s many local diverse neighbourhoods and its diverse needs. We have decided on a framework that balances the need for elected representatives to be able to think strategically on behalf of the whole region with the need for the local communities to have a strong voice on issues closer to home. The combination of the new Auckland Council and the local boards 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 new system is much simpler and more coordinated and will provide for community representation at grassroots level. Boards will let residents and ratepayers influence decision making while the council can get on with the job of delivery of regional services. Each board will be named after its local community—whether it is through the Mangere or Henderson board the Pukekohe or Papakura board the Waiheke or Devonport board local communities need to be able to manage their issues locally and express their identities. We have gone further than the royal commission in promoting effective local representation. The Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff should actually talk to Devonport rather than just talk about it. I took a call last night from Mike Cohen the leader of the Devonport Community Board. He is well known to the local MP Dr Wayne Mapp and he told me how pleased he was with this Government decision for local representation. That is what he had to say. I say to the Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff who says that we did not engage with local leaders in Auckland that the royal commission which his Government set up spent nearly $4 million travelled to Toronto went to London and hobnobbed around the world but never went to Devonport. It never went to the North Shore. But the Minister of Local Government— 
Chris Auchinvole 
: Did he go? 
Hon RODNEY HIDE 
: He went to Devonport and he talked to them. I have not seen anyone from the Labour Party do that. But the Minister of Local Government and the good member Dr Wayne Mapp talked to the people that Mr Phil Goff decided to introduce into this debate. I tell this to the Leader of the Opposition because it is clear that he has no way of finding out that the people of Auckland wanted one council and that they wanted local representation. That is what this Government has provided. I have heard no plan from Labour—none. We had 9 years of Judith Tizard. That is all Labour gave us for Auckland. The new boards offer a better solution than keeping the eight councils or the six local councils the royal commission wanted. 
For Maori I say that Pita Sharples put his case forcefully and hard. On balance the Government decided not to go with the three Maori seats. It was a tough call. Maori have a unique window to contribute and to involve themselves in the governance of Auckland because in 2010 there will be 20 councillors elected to the Auckland Council. There will be a new mayor and 20 to 30 local boards will be elected. I say to Maori that they should work to put up the good candidates because we know that the people of Auckland will vote for good candidates. I am sorry to see that Labour thinks that there are no good Maori who can stand and win a seat or that the good people of Auckland do not vote people according to their merit and ability to represent their city. We are also working on how to properly engage the Auckland Council and the local boards with Maori and I am pleased to say that Dr Pita Sharples has confirmed that he will continue to work with me to that end. 
The important thing is that we get a good result for Auckland and that we manage the transition with some certainty and some certitude in the way we go about it for the sake of the staff of the councils and for Auckland. We will be appointing an establishment board to do the transition work. Although I disagree with elements of what has been proposed the local councils the mayors and the chief executives whom I have kept in close touch with—unlike Phil Goff—have said that they will work and are committed to a steering group to help us with the transition and with the transition board. They have assured us that council services will continue throughout the process. Our plan will give greater efficiencies less duplication and waste and better outcomes for the region. 
I heard a bit of talk earlier in this House at question time about the responsibilities of Ministers. Let me tell members what my responsibilities are. As Minister they are to the people of Auckland: to listen to the advice to make decisions and seek the support of my ministerial colleagues and to take action. The advice has been given and it has been listened to. The decisions have been made and are supported by the Government. Now is the time to act. That is what the people of Auckland will see between now and the election in 2010—an action to make Auckland which is a great city even greater. What we have to strive for each and every day is to make Auckland the greatest city that it can be through the good governance that we can now provide and to do the same for our country. Thank you.