Shearer David: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
Shearer David: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6554] 
DAVID SHEARER (Labour—Mt Albert) 
: 
 I will comment on the speech of previous speaker Allan Peachey because I do not think he has been listening to what the Labour Party’s policy has been. Labour’s policy all along has been to support having a unitary authority for Auckland with one mayor and a form of local government that represents the communities of interest. What we also want though is for this new law to be a good law. We do not want a bill that is ad hoc and just brings up whatever issue is current at the moment. We have seen for example the notion of Maori seats demolished before the bill even got to Parliament. We have seen half of the district of Rodney taken out and then put back in again. This whole bill is a shambles. It is adhockery. 
The number of community boards proposed by the royal commission was six. This Government talked about having 20 to 30. The Labour Party has been talking about having 14 to 20. The point is that the boards should reflect communities of interest and the key issue here is how to determine those communities of interest. A lot of those communities of interest have been referred to the Local Government Commission for a decision on how that will happen. 
We would like to think that the Local Government Commission is able to hear the public and for that reason George Hawkins’ amendment is on the Table. The reason we are here today is to debate policy that will enable this bill to be much better. George Hawkins’ amendment proposes that the public be consulted over the critical details in determining the boundaries of the Auckland Council region the wards and the local boards. It seems perfectly reasonable to me. It enables Aucklanders to have real say as the Local Government Commission decides on the way that the communities of interests will go forward. We should support it. 
We have heard from John Carter in the course of this debate that this bill is a work in progress— 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: “Pro-gress”. 
DAVID SHEARER 
: —or progress. It is a bit late to be talking about a work in progress as we are sitting here listening to the last parts of the legislation being debated in Parliament when we know that this Government will not take any notice of the changes that are being put forward. Despite the fact that we have put amendments on the Table that will improve this legislation immeasurably we know that the Government will not take any notice of them. 
Labour has looked at having a 5-year review and Phil Twyford has put an amendment to that effect on the Table. A 5-year review would look at this legislation again. It is a good amendment and we should be supporting it. Labour has proposed what the royal commission recommended about social well-being and we have put forward an amendment to that effect. 
Between 2006 and 2016 the Pacific population in Auckland will increase by 23 percent. Pacific Islanders will become about 16 percent of the total population. That is why Su’a William Sio has put forward an amendment to have a Pacific Advisory Board. There will be a 58 percent increase in the Asian population which will become 25 percent of Auckland’s population. We have put forward an amendment in the name of Raymond Huo that will set up an Asian Advisory Board. This is what is happening in Manukau in Waitakere and in North Shore. It makes good sense. It improves this bill. 
Phil Twyford has put forward an amendment proposing that the number of councillors goes from 20 to 25. Again it is another good amendment. It is a reasonable suggestion that will enable better democracy to be brought to this bill. However it is not likely to succeed.