Hide Rodney: Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill — Third Reading 
Hide Rodney: Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:654;Page:3718] 
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 I move  
That the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill be now read a third time 
. The purpose of the bill is to provide the legislative mechanisms for transition to the new Auckland governance arrangements which are required to be in place as early as possible. We need to act decisively if the new structure is to be established before October next year. This measure will allow members of the new Auckland Council and local boards to be elected at the October 2010 local government elections. The short transition period will minimise uncertainty and disruption for council staff and the public. 
The Auckland region needs decisive leadership robust infrastructure and facilities and services to cater for its people. The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance found that many of the things holding back Auckland related to the way that the region is run. It found that the Auckland Regional Council and the seven territorial authorities lacked a collective sense of purpose constitutional ability and the momentum to address issues effectively for the overall good of Auckland. The Government agreed with many of the royal commission’s recommendations has gone further on a few and has provided some alternative solutions such as the social issues forum. The Government has made a fast and decisive response to the royal commission’s report. 
I would like to thank the royal commissioners for their work and to congratulate all those involved in coordinating the Government’s response. I also want to thank the people of Auckland who contributed through their submissions to the royal commission report and who have continued to express their views. The level of interest and continued debate gives me great confidence that the new Auckland mayor and council will lead a vigorous and critical local democracy. I also thank my Associate Minister of Local Government Mr John Carter with whom I have built up a great sense of teamwork and friendship. He has done an outstanding job over the period in first of all developing the policy producing the legislation and indeed making sure the legislation has a speedy process through Parliament. I also thank Mr Brendan Boyle from the Department of Internal Affairs and his team who have done an outstanding job for the people of Auckland Parliament and New Zealand. We should all be proud of the calibre of the staff of the Department of Internal Affairs. 
The Auckland Council as a single unitary authority governing the region will provide leadership and deliver core services efficiently and effectively. The second tier of governance made up of 20 to 30 local boards will ensure that Aucklanders are heard on issues and make local decisions on local matters. The new system for Auckland governance will be much simpler be more coordinated and provide for community representation at the grassroots level. This bill is the foundation stone upon which we will make Auckland a great place to live that drives New Zealand’s economic growth. The new mayor and councillors will be the first leaders in Auckland’s history to be in a position to balance local and regional issues. They will be able to speak with one voice to central government and this Government intends to listen. This bill provides for the establishment of the Auckland Council on and from 1 November 2010 the establishment of the Auckland Transition Agency to manage and facilitate the transition to the new local governance arrangements and requirements for the existing local authorities and certain other entities to participate in the reorganisation both by doing specified things and by refraining from doing specified things. 
This Government was elected to govern. There are those who believe that they have more to say in addition to the decades of debate and the royal commission submissions and report. There are those who believe that the Government should somehow make the complex process simple and put a single simple question to a referendum which would delay or possibly stop the renewal of Auckland governance. There are those who say that we have waited 50 years and that we can wait longer. We cannot wait longer. The royal commission considered the possibility of waiting and said no. It said we should act now. It said it is essential that the transition work is under way quickly. It said that the 18-month time frame for the establishment of the Auckland Council is ambitious but achievable and it said that it is most important that the deadline is met. It said that the consultation by the royal commission had been extensive and that there was “no need to rehearse old arguments”. 
The bill will enable work to get under way to make Auckland an internationally competitive city and a place that encourages our children and grandchildren to build their futures in New Zealand. This is a bill that Auckland needs and a bill that New Zealand needs. It is well-thought-out and with the later bills balances the need for urgency with the need for democratic input. I commend this bill to the House.