Adams Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Adams Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7303] 
9.  
PAUL ADAMS (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Local Government 
: Does he stand by his statement in the House yesterday that “As Minister of Local Government it is my responsibility and indeed my privilege to act as an advocate for local government.”? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 Yes. 
Paul Adams 
: As part of the Minister’s role as an advocate for local government is he investigating alternative funding sources to alleviate the growing financial pressure on local authorities in line with the call from North Shore City Council’s Mayor George Wood for “action from both regional and central government in an all-out effort to find alternative solutions that are fair workable and lasting”; if so what steps has he taken to date? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I can assure that member that we are working with the local government sector to identify upcoming infrastructure costs and whether additional funding tools are necessary. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What action has the Minister taken to improve the system of local government in New Zealand? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: The new Local Government Act requires all councils to be more responsive and accountable to their communities. That has to be a very good thing. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: When will the Government in fact complete the promised review just referred to and promised last year in respect of local politics in Auckland—given the huge increase in Auckland Regional Council rates and also the multiplicity of regional and local government organisations in Auckland which clearly is slowing things up in terms of fixing the roads? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I can assure the member that the Government is working closely with all Auckland territorial authorities to address questions like transport. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting those answers will the Minister as an advocate for local government make any formal representation to his Cabinet colleagues to ease the burden on ratepayers who are currently paying in excess of $300 million a year towards solving roading and transport problems; if not why not? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Ultimately the payment of funds to cover transport is borne by the New Zealand taxpayer. The Government is really conscious that in many areas the rating base is very weak which is why funding for transport since 1999 has increased by 20 percent. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: As an advocate for local government will the Minister support to his Cabinet colleagues the submission of Local Government New Zealand yesterday to the Education and Science Committee hearings on the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill which insisted that local councils must have a role in deciding whether genetically modified crops are released in their communities? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: In the next week or so I will be attending the local government conference in Queenstown. I am sure I will be very happy to discuss that issue along with many others with local mayors and council chairs. 
Paul Adams 
: As part of his role as an advocate for local government is the Minister prepared to meet Auckland’s territorial and regional mayors to help them to find solutions to Auckland’s rates crisis; if so when? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Just last week upon returning from Australia I met the Mayor of North Shore City and the Mayor of Waitakere City on Saturday morning over coffee and we discussed that issue. I had lunch with Mayor Banks last week as well and continue to have close dialogue with Auckland mayors. 
Larry Baldock 
: Noting the Minister’s admission yesterday that the funding of infrastructure is the primary cost facing local authorities and also that part of his role is to be an advocate for local government will he lobby the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Finance to increase the percentage of funding allocated by Transfund for local roads from the current maximum of 47 percent to a maximum of 80 percent; if not why not? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I will continue to have dialogue with my colleagues the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Finance over funding for local government. 
Larry Baldock 
: As part of the Minister’s role as an advocate for local government has he sought any advice as to whether local government should be required to pay GST on rates remitted due to Local Government Act requirements having been alerted to that issue in the House yesterday; if so what was the advice he received? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: I must confess that I have not yet sought any advice on that.