Tremain Chris: Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill(No 2) — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTremain Chris: Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill(No 2) — In Committee[Sitting date: 24 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13664. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CHRIS TREMAIN (Minister of Local Government): I feel duty-bound to respond to a number of the claims that have been made by the Opposition this evening. I commenced the debate in good spirit and I intend to finish it in that spirit but really in that regard I cannot leave unanswered some of the statements that have been made. I just want to start with Mr Twyford who finished by rolling out the rhetoric that in spite of the efforts of a roll-call of National Ministers to effect democracy in Auckland—Phil Twyford: You’re the only one who’s a democrat Chris.Hon CHRIS TREMAIN: Ha ha! Then in the same breath Mr Twyford said that the Mayor Len Brown has led a very strong fight to build a world-class transport system. Well that is a fantastic effort. But let us think about that for a minute. How has Len Brown been able to do that? It is because we have one mayor and one council forAuckland and a mayor who has a clear vision for the city and a clear set of priorities that he and his council can drive through. And how was that delivered? It was delivered simply by the fact that people like Rodney Hide who has been criticised in this Chamber quite loudly tonight actually had the temerity to go up and deliver a super-city which has now got a clear vision and a set of priorities and which Mr Twyford supported tonight through his comments on building a world-leading transport system. So thank you for that Mr Twyford and thanks for your support.But let us be clear about something something that has not been debated tonight. Who voted against the super-city? Oh that is right—the Labour Party the Greens and New Zealand First. So it is kind of funny where we have got to now where they are supporting a central vision and a wonderful world-leading transport system—fantastic—but in the same breath they voted against the very system that allowed that to happen in the first place. So I just wanted to make that point.I also want to reply toSu’a WilliamSio’s comments about the costs and how Rodney Hide rolled out additional costs in bringing it all together. What we need to also understand is the savings that this amalgamation has delivered. In this first year alone it was $81 million. Over 10 years—Andrew Williams: Haven’t made any savings. They haven’t made any savings.Hon CHRIS TREMAIN: You do not like it Mr Williams but there is $1.7 billion worth of savings over 10 years. That is the effort and that has delivered lower rates overall across Auckland. So it is important that people know that.The other thing I want to follow up on is a few comments also bySu’a William Sio who said that the Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 2) cleans up the Government’s mess. Well let us be clear: when we put the amalgamated Auckland City together no one thought that we would get a perfect solution on day one. We put this regulation-making power in place to actually allow local boards to be trialled. Actually that is a pretty sensible move. What has happened 3 years down the track? Are we changing those regulations 3 years down the track? Not one iota. So actually we got it right. We got it right.Actually if we had got it wrong and if it had not worked perfectly we would be changing that law now. Everybody in the Chamber agrees that actually the regulations now going into law were the right thing to do. So I am actually pretty proud of what we have achieved. I am proud of what Rodney Hide achieved. I am proud of what the National Government has achieved in putting this together and delivering a local voice.The last comment I want to make is in response to Tracey Martin because she made a very good point about local boards. Actually I look forward to the support of Phil Twyford and the Labour Party and of New Zealand First and the Greens for the legislation—the Local Government Amendment Bill—that will come into the House at the end of the year which allows local boards to be set up throughout the rest of the country. We are providing that democratic opportunity and those amalgamation opportunities throughout the rest of the country. So I look forward to your support and I look forward to your support of those local boards and of that provision and that option as we go down the track.I want to finish by acknowledging some of the electioneering that went on in the Labour Party speeches—[Interruption] I am not going to mention any members. That is not my role as the Minister of Local Government. I want to wish all members and all candidates the best of luck as we roll into this election. I want to ask all New Zealanders to step up and vote and to be part of the democratic process. Thank you.Clause 1 agreed to.Clause 2 agreed to.Clause 3 agreed to.Clause 4 agreed to.Clause 5 agreed to.Bill to be reported without amendment presently.