Hawkins George: Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Amendment Bill Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Bill — Third Readings 
Hawkins George: Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Amendment Bill Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Bill — Third Readings 
[Volume:663;Page:11621] 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa) 
: 
 Talofa lava. This day has not taken as long to come as many would have thought. But if we go back to the findings of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance we see that the Government has acted very quickly. It never had time to gather any dust. There was no referendum for the people of Auckland as had been promised. What was most surprising was that there was no direct representation for Maori. There was a dust-up—a very public dust-up—between Dr Sharples and Rodney Hide with John Key the Prime Minister intervening. It turned out that from then on Maori people did not really think that they would have an opportunity to be well represented. It turned out that the squabble or fight between Dr Sharples and Rodney Hide— 
Simon Bridges 
: You’re not getting paid by the minute George. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Well if the member wants to extend my time I am happy to go on even further. There was a fight between Dr Sharples and Rodney Hide. Rodney Hide turned Dr Sharples upside down on his head and dropped him as is his wont from time to time. From then on the Maori Party lost its way a wee bit and I think that is really sad. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Why? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Because it will not have any representation. On 1 November a lot of people will see what will largely be an all-white council. They will also see a lot of families where the workers and income earners for a family lose their jobs. Fewer people will be working for local government in Auckland. Many people see that as a good thing but each time a family is involved. 
On the other hand we do not need eight chief executive officers. At the moment there are eight chief executive officers and we have to look back to see what happened in the past. Waitakere City Council had a chief executive officer a few years ago who collected $700000 in redundancy as he walked out of the door. I ask what will happen with this measure. With redundancy—[ 
Interruption 
] Well my brother does not lose his job like that member did in the past—from this House. I remind him of that. That chief executive officer probably collected 3 months’ redundancy but the average worker will not be getting the over $1 million that some of those chief executives will walk away with. It takes the average worker in my electorate who is on $40000 25 years to earn that amount of money. It would take the media a mere eight phone calls to find out how much is going out of ratepayers’ purses and wallets to pay for the redundancy of those people. I have to say that that is a pity. 
One of the interesting things about this legislation has been the level of debate from members of the public making submissions. These people have been very good. They have planned they have worked away and they have presented to the Auckland Governance Committee. Some of them were very nervous but they were all very passionate. When people are very passionate they expect their MPs— 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: How to be an insomniac’s friend! 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Well the member might have trouble sleeping but if he closes his eyes as well as his mouth he will do well. 
These people want Aucklanders to represent them and what has happened? Where have all the National members speaking up about this legislation been? John Key has not taken part in this debate. Judith Collins—the strong silent type—found that it was easier to walk away and say nothing. People like Paula Bennett and Allan Peachey have not contributed yet people look to their local representatives to get stuck in. I acknowledge that Pansy Wong and Maurice Williamson had something to say. It was not on the big important issue but on a little side issue. That is the work of a local MP and I acknowledge that but here was an opportunity for people to get up and explain why the National coalition Government was so intent on making changes. When that happens people feel that they have been well treated. The polls show that people do not feel that they have been well treated. They do not feel that at all. They think that they have been cast aside. 
I thank the Minister of Local Government for adopting my amendment to open up the council-controlled organisations to more public scrutiny. One thing I learnt when I was mayor was that people like to be able to come and have their say. They like to be able to talk through issues. Auckland will lose seven mayors and the chair of the regional council. People will not be able to see our new mayor as easily as they have seen our mayors in the past. The mayor will become far more remote. Given that much of the council’s work will be done by council-controlled organisations and 75 percent of the council’s spending will go to those council-controlled organisations it is important that people have the opportunity to go along a couple of times a year and not only listen in to what is going on but have their say. That is the really important thing: to have their say. That was one of the things that the National coalition Government missed out on. It did not appreciate that people want to be participants. They want to be involved. We have a Government that had forgotten that. I thank Minister Rodney Hide for realising that was a shortcoming and being prepared to take on board the amendment. 
People can sometimes be difficult to deal with; they may be pests. I think of Penny Bright from time to time who goes along to meetings. People shrink in their seats because they feel like “Here she goes again!”. But I remind the House that she found out that Metro Water was giving the Auckland Regional Council $25 million a year in charity payments. People like Penny Bright really make a difference. 
I will talk about the people of Rodney who have not really accepted what is happening. People like Bill Townsend are very very passionate. He thinks that the Government will at the last moment allow Rodney to stay outside the super-city. Unfortunately that will not happen for Bill Townsend and his followers. But they will carry on petitioning and having meetings as they feel they have been dragged into Auckland. 
It is a pity that so many people are not rejoicing at the fact that we could have one prosperous city rather than seven local councils they know so well. I think at this time of Sir Barry Curtis who so passionately built Manukau. I do not want to see what he built disappear. My plea to the new council is to take on board the things that Barry Curtis and Bob Harvey felt passionate about that made the westies different. I think that is very very important. I hope this legislation works well but I sometimes have my doubts.