Barry Maggie: Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Barry Maggie: Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 29 November 2012. Volume:686;Page:6971. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MAGGIE BARRY (National—North Shore) 
: 
 We on this side of the House support effective responsible local government and that is why this piece of legislation the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill is so important. The four well-beings have really been a tool that has enabled irresponsible and incompetent and inept local councils. It has given them the excuse that they need to overspend and to put ratepayers in a difficult position. 
The spectacularly failed former Mayor of North Shore knows a lot about that. As my colleague pointed out earlier rates went up under his watch much faster than the CPI. So frankly for the guy who has put the North Shore in such a bad position and who then congratulates the most profligate spenders in local government I think his credibility is suitably well defined. My constituents on the North Shore tell me repeatedly that they are completely sick of the rates rises and the difficulties that they are facing. They are on fixed incomes they are hurting and they need some relief. 
 This legislation will give responsible local governments the ability to actually manage their resources and to manage what they have well. If they do choose to support events activities or anything of that kind then they are able to do so but it must be financially sustainable. Focus and discipline are what the ratepayers of New Zealand require of their local councils. They have the right to do that. But focus and discipline unfortunately are pretty well unknown territory for the Opposition parties. Local government really needs to take a grip and to be refocused and we are giving it the tools to do that. 
I must say that it has been entertaining really listening to the contributions of the Greens. We had one member the other day who called this piece of legislation “eee-vil”. I think that was how it was pronounced—“eee-vil” it was. This was from an individual who never once came to a meeting in all of the submissions and all of the hearings yet she gets— 
Jami-Lee Ross 
: Who was that? Who was that? 
MAGGIE BARRY 
: Oh I do not know. She is someone over there. Denise somebody or other—I cannot quite recall. 
Anyway “Ms Evil” has really not looked too carefully at things because what is evil about being clear about the role of councils in our communities? What is evil about being concerned about the escalating level of council rates and debt? What is evil about enabling the Government to intervene earlier with councils that have got it wrong so that we do not end up with the appalling situations like the poor ratepayers of Kaipara are currently being forced to endure? What is evil about giving elected councils far more control over the salaries of their executives and requiring more open disclosure of staff salaries? They have got it out of kilter. They have got it all wrong. This is a very important piece of legislation. It is only the first of the reforms that we are going to bring in to allow local government to do what it does best and also to relieve ratepayers of the terrible burden that profligate spenders are giving to them. 
So for the third time—this is the third call that I have taken on this bill—I would really like to commend this bill to the House. I believe in it. I believe in the John Key - led Government and that we are heading to a brighter future. The Opposition parties have proved once and for all that they are out of touch that they are not listening to the people. I commend this bill to the House.