Sio Su'a William: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
Sio Su'a William: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6449] 
SU’A WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Mangere) 
: 
 That was a speech made by Raymond Huo who is a member of the Labour Party and a wonderful advocate for people of Chinese ancestry. He was speaking up on behalf of the many communities of Asian descent in the Auckland region. But unfortunately from members on the other side of the Chamber there is only silence. They have been gagged and no doubt instructed by Mr Hide to stay silent. Their silence also gives the impression that they are not listening and that they have already made up their minds. 
Labour will continue to advocate for Maori seats because it is the right thing to do. Labour will continue to advocate that we have advisory bodies on the new council that allow participation by Asian communities Pacific communities and young people. It has been said by some members from the other side of the Chamber that Auckland is a gifted city yet when it comes to actually doing something about allowing for the full potential of the city to be realised it is not in the governance structure put forward by the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill. Nothing in the structure encourages full participation of the diverse populations of the Auckland region. 
At a later stage I will move an amendment to this bill adding a new clause that would establish a Pacific Advisory Board. Its purpose would be to perform an advisory role for the governing body in relation to its decisions relating to Pacific Island communities; to represent the views of the Pacific Island communities; and to enable participation of the Pacific Island community in the decision-making processes of the Auckland Council. The membership of that advisory board would be determined by the governing body in consultation with Pacific communities and Pacific leaders within the Auckland region. The Pacific Advisory Board would have no fewer than four members appointed by a majority vote of the governing body. 
It is important that I spell that out because on the other side of the Chamber fear drives the members’ determination not to allow for Maori participation and not to allow for participation by Asian communities or Pacific communities. There is fear on the other side of the Chamber. The Government does not want young people to participate. If we are looking to the future—and this structure will be in place for the next 50 to 100 years—is it not right to ensure that we put in place a structure that allows full participation from all the communities of that region? If our aim is to ensure that everybody is able to receive a good quality of life should we not ensure that the structure has everybody in it? Should we not ensure that the structure is able to realise the full potential that exists in all those communities? There is strong commitment from this side of the Chamber that everybody in that region has a significant role to play and that it is important for this Government to be able to provide that structure and the particular process to enable it. 
I have seen my counterpart on the other side of the Chamber Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga advertise furiously in many local newspapers with Mr Key saying that they were listening willing and accessible to Pacific communities. But I have to say— 
Hon Member 
: Missing in action. 
SU’A WILLIAM SIO 
: Yes there is really no action. It is not in the structure in this legislation. What the Government is saying does not align with what it is about to do. Through this structure it is giving power to a handful and—with the greatest respect to this Committee—it is a handful of middle-class white males who will dominate the council. It has been purposely structured in that way. The Government is deleting the structures that allow representation from all of the different cultures in the area.