Calder Cam: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
Calder Cam: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6500] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 Thank you for the opportunity to rise and take the call on this very important bill the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill. Members of the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee including my colleague Nikki Kaye have collectively spent thousands of hours listening to the people of Greater Auckland on this very important matter—this hugely important matter—under the esteemed leadership of the Associate Minister of Local Government John Carter. We have listened carefully and responded thoughtfully. A wide range of views have been expressed. As the Prime Minister has stated the aim of this exercise is to allow Auckland to think regionally plan strategically and act decisively—a feeling probably completely foreign to members on the other side of the Chamber. Just as in days gone by the performance of the Auckland rugby team was held to presage a fearsomely competitive All Black pack so in the future we believe that a strong vibrant Auckland City nurturing its diverse inhabitants and encouraging them to reach their full potential will result in a New Zealand—our nation—able to do the same on the global stage. If we get it right in Epsom if we get it right in Manurewa if we get it right in Auckland we get it right for New Zealand. 
I personally do not agree with W Somerset Maugham who said that in great cities men are like a lot of stones thrown together in a bag: their jagged corners are rubbed off until in the end they are as smooth as marbles. The decision to have 20 or 30 local boards means that the different and diverse communities in Auckland which make up Greater Auckland will be recognised and the communities of interest will be supported. We had a very erudite contribution from Sir Roger who talked about the bedrock of the European Union: the concept of subsidiarity. A community of interest could potentially be 100000 people in Auckland as my honourable friend pointed out or it could be 50000. Its structures will be determined by the Local Government Commission. 
Few folk in this Chamber or I am sure in Auckland or New Zealand have not heard of Sir John Logan Campbell the founder of Auckland whose gift to the people of Auckland—Cornwall Park in the vibrant electorate of Epsom—is enjoyed by thousands of people from all the cities across the Auckland isthmus to this day. Sir Dove-Myer Robinson’s vision was greater than that of his fellow councillors at the time and we are very grateful for the cleanliness of our beaches which is largely down to him. 
What then is the background to this Greater Auckland issue? The reality is that the problems with the governance of Auckland have been recognised for years. The indolent unlamented lackadaisical late Labour administration sat on its hands for almost 9 years then set up a royal commission. [ 
Interruption 
] How long was it? It was 9 years. Then it set up a royal commission. We were challenged by the royal commission to make the changes needed in time for elections a little over a year from now. Hence the need for urgency. We are on track; we are on time; we are delivering for Auckland. 
The report of the royal commission was not the only thing that made known the need to reform local government in Auckland and this is what makes Labour’s dilatoriness and indolence so hard to understand. Auckland’s future has been debated for decades. Michael Joseph Savage whose name may be known to members opposite stood on a one-council policy in 1919. Why do they not dredge through some old copies of  
Hansard 
 and get some inspiration for the future?