Mapp Wayne: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
Mapp Wayne: Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:663;Page:11502] 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP (Minister of Defence) 
: 
 In 4½ months the voters of Auckland will decide on their new mayor the new council and the local boards. I for one am looking forward to that day because our city needs to be brought into the 21st century. We have been hamstrung by a creaky local governance situation. We have to look only at our waterfront to see the detriment of that and we have to look only at our transport system to see the problems of the system today. The previous Government recognised that reality. That is why it appointed the royal commission although one would never know it judging by the debates being made in this House tonight and also made previously. The reality is that Auckland needs to have this reform New Zealand needs to have this reform and it is time that we got on with doing it. 
The Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill is the third bill. It locks the key part of the architecture of the super-city in place. I will deal with the two core issues: firstly the local boards and secondly the council-controlled organisations. 
Many people seem to believe that the local boards will have limited or very little power. That is simply false. The falsehood spread by the political opponents of this bill has no relationship to the material set out in the bill and it is frankly a result of propaganda. Let us look at what the local boards will actually be able to do. They will for instance deal with local board plans. They will deal with all local civic duties Anzac Day and all sorts of local events such as that. They will deal with all of the issues around community development and arts and culture in their particular areas. Victoria Theatre would be a case in point. They will deal with libraries and there are numerous libraries in what will become the area of the Takapuna-Devonport local board. They will deal with parks and recreation. There are a large number of parks in the region. I am not referring to the regional parks but to all the parks that most people use on a daily or a weekly basis for walking sports or taking the dog for a walk. The local boards will also deal with economic development including town centres—Mairangi Bay Devonport and many other places throughout Auckland—and local environmental issues. 
These local boards will have real power and real accountability back to the people. I am confident that a substantial number of people will seek office on these boards because unlike the present community boards these local boards will have real power real influence and a significant delegated budget that will enable them to make a difference. This in fact fulfils the promise that was sought by many people: giving real governance to local people through their local boards. 
But the governance of our city is not just dependent on the local boards; it is also dependent on the city and on the council-controlled organisations. Let us look at those organisations as well. Transport Watercare Services economic development investments the waterfront and amenities—those are important roles and we need them to be properly governed. The council-controlled organisations will be implementing the council’s priorities; indeed under this legislation they are required to do so. But do we really want the 20 councillors of Auckland Council to decide on the water rates? Do we really want the 20 councillors to decide on which pipes should go where or should that be left to Watercare Services? Actually right now it is left to that organisation. Virtually every local authority has delegated that power to a council-controlled organisation. I suggest to members opposite that amongst the first and most immediate gains that Aucklanders will see across our city are improved water quality more efficient delivery and frankly an opportunity for there to be lower prices. Taking a much more effective approach to council-controlled organisations will deliver the opportunity for that to occur. 
I simply cannot understand why the Opposition has been so opposed to the council-controlled organisations because in truth there are already 41 such organisations. This legislation will reduce their number to seven far more effective council-controlled organisations which will provide real delivery and will be accountable back to the council and to the people. These are hugely important organisations and they will be effective for our city. I say this: the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee and the local government Ministers both Mr Hide and Mr Carter have listened very carefully to the public of New Zealand. They have made major changes to this bill including the changes set out on the Supplementary Order Papers in the name of Mr Hide that are being tabled. They have listened to the submissions. That is why two positions on each of the council-controlled organisations are being left for the city to make appointments to. It seems to me that the Opposition has simply misunderstood either wilfully or ignorantly the distinction between governance and management. In order for there to be effective modern governance one has to have council-controlled organisations to undertake service delivery. Of course those organisations should be dependent on the powers conferred upon them by the local authority the Auckland Council and they will be. 
I say this to members on the Opposition side of the Chamber: I keep hearing them go on and on about Maori representation. Frankly the new council will have a choice about that. Candidates out there are providing genuine proposals to voters about that choice. Surely members on the other side of the Chamber believe in democracy. Surely they cannot be opposed to the voters of Auckland having that choice. Voters will have opposing candidates to choose from. But oh no what we hear from the Opposition members is an echo of the arguments of the past about issues that have been long since dealt with in the two previous bills. 
I say to those members that in 4½ months our city is to make a dramatic change in its governance. What does that mean? It means taking our city from the 20th century into the 21st century. What I have noticed about this— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: John Banks’ campaign manger. 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
:—John Banks has been very very clear on this point: we have a clear choice in Auckland. Do we want to be a vibrant forward-looking city that is admired by other cities around the Pacific rim and is seen as being a destination? Voters ultimately face that choice. I say to voters that they should look at the prescriptions of both the leading candidates at the present moment and make their judgment ultimately on this basis: how do they perceive our city looking into the future as the engine driver of the New Zealand economy—our portal to the world that makes us a relevant and vibrant place for the future? We face that choice and that is ultimately what this legislation is about.