Press release - Thursday 25 June 2009.
GAG’s strong support for Maori seats on the proposed Super City Council culminated last night in a vocal protest at Waitakere City Council’s chamber for a crucial meeting at which the Council debated their stance on the issue.
Following some debate Council agreed to support guaranteed Maori seats at a governance level both on the new Auckland Council and on the local boards.
The Council’s draft submission to the select committee on Auckland Governance had stated that they would only support a Maori forum and not seats at a governance level.
In addition to supporting Maori seats on Auckland Council the Waitakere City Council also agreed to:
• The continuation of Te Taumata Runanga model, extended across the Auckland Region;
• The introduction of Maori Seats and Te Taumata Runanga model to ALL Councils in Aotearoa;
• To lobby government and Local Gov New Zealand to adopt this nationwide.
(Note the support for Maori seats on Auckland council is NOT contingent on this being adopted nationwide)
GAG member Mels Barton said “We’re glad that Waitakere City Council has listened to their communities and changed their position into taking this strong stance for Maori. It opens the door for improved representation for all voices if Maori can have a seat at the table of governance for the region - and honours the Treaty.
I’m proud of my Council for having the strength to look forward not backwards and show the Government what good local governance is all about – listening to people.
This was always about democracy - and we look forward to the council supporting other initiatives like ward-based councillors and properly empowered local boards to ensure all voices are heard”
GAG is encouraging everyone to have their say on the Super City by emailing their views to the select committee on AGL@parliament.govt.nz by 5pm on Friday 26 June. Advice on writing a submission can be found on the GAG web site at www.gag.net.nz
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Rally to lobby Waitakere City Council to support the Maori Seats
E nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga rangatira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa.
He protehi tenei na matou ki te tino kuare me te porangi o te kaunihera o Waitakere. He mahi nanakia nei ki te iwi Maori.
Waitakere City Council has decided not to include in their submission (on behalf of all residents within Waitakere City) Maori seats at the governance level. Instead they have proposed that a Maori forum be established, which is the same as we have today and ineffective for a SuperCity Model.
IHI (Iwi Have Influence) West is contacting Bob Harvey for speaking rights at the Council meeting to restate our kaupapa on Mana Whenua and Maori representation and insist that Waitakere City Council include this as part of their submission. Council needs to recognise the many West Auckland communities that joined the hikoi to support the inclusion of 3 guaranteed Mana Whenua and Maori Seats...
Please join us in a rally to lobby the Councillors to include guaranteed Mana Whenua and Maori representation in their submission.
Wednesday 24th June 2009
5.15pm
Waitakere City Council
6 Henderson Valley Road
Henderson
Mauria mai to kaha me to reo ki te tutuki pai i nga wawata o nga iwi.
He protehi tenei na matou ki te tino kuare me te porangi o te kaunihera o Waitakere. He mahi nanakia nei ki te iwi Maori.
Waitakere City Council has decided not to include in their submission (on behalf of all residents within Waitakere City) Maori seats at the governance level. Instead they have proposed that a Maori forum be established, which is the same as we have today and ineffective for a SuperCity Model.
IHI (Iwi Have Influence) West is contacting Bob Harvey for speaking rights at the Council meeting to restate our kaupapa on Mana Whenua and Maori representation and insist that Waitakere City Council include this as part of their submission. Council needs to recognise the many West Auckland communities that joined the hikoi to support the inclusion of 3 guaranteed Mana Whenua and Maori Seats...
Please join us in a rally to lobby the Councillors to include guaranteed Mana Whenua and Maori representation in their submission.
Wednesday 24th June 2009
5.15pm
Waitakere City Council
6 Henderson Valley Road
Henderson
Mauria mai to kaha me to reo ki te tutuki pai i nga wawata o nga iwi.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
GAG stall hits the streets
The GAG information and submission stall will be out and about in Waitakere City from this week to enable people to learn more about the issues and help them make a submission to the select committee on the Super City.
The stall includes a video camera so that people can make a spoken submission if they prefer.
The stall will be in the following locations:
Tuesday 16 June (afternoon) - New Lynn Library
Wednesday 17 June (afternoon and evening) - Glen Eden Library
Thursday 18 June (afternoon) - Glen Eden Library
Friday 19 June - (afternoon) - Henderson Central Library
Saturday 20 June (morning) - Oratia Farmers Market 9-12pm
Saturday 20 June (afternoon) - Westwave Aquatic Centre, Henderson
Sunday 21 June (morning) - Avondale Market
Monday 22 June (afternoon) - Henderson Central Library
Tuesday 23 June (morning and afternoon) - Ranui Library
Wednesday 24 June (morning and afternoon) - Massey Library
On Friday 19 June Waitakere City Council are holding an open day for making submissions at Westwave Aquatic Centre in Henderson.
SavePapakura.com and Waitiaki are also holding a succession of workshops to help you make a submission next week. The details are on the SavePapakura.com website.
If you'd like to help with the stall the GAG team would love to hear from you. We need more volunteers so we can cover more locations for longer. Please email westiegag@gmail.com if you can help.
Submissions close on Friday 26 June.
The stall includes a video camera so that people can make a spoken submission if they prefer.
The stall will be in the following locations:
Tuesday 16 June (afternoon) - New Lynn Library
Wednesday 17 June (afternoon and evening) - Glen Eden Library
Thursday 18 June (afternoon) - Glen Eden Library
Friday 19 June - (afternoon) - Henderson Central Library
Saturday 20 June (morning) - Oratia Farmers Market 9-12pm
Saturday 20 June (afternoon) - Westwave Aquatic Centre, Henderson
Sunday 21 June (morning) - Avondale Market
Monday 22 June (afternoon) - Henderson Central Library
Tuesday 23 June (morning and afternoon) - Ranui Library
Wednesday 24 June (morning and afternoon) - Massey Library
On Friday 19 June Waitakere City Council are holding an open day for making submissions at Westwave Aquatic Centre in Henderson.
SavePapakura.com and Waitiaki are also holding a succession of workshops to help you make a submission next week. The details are on the SavePapakura.com website.
If you'd like to help with the stall the GAG team would love to hear from you. We need more volunteers so we can cover more locations for longer. Please email westiegag@gmail.com if you can help.
Submissions close on Friday 26 June.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Submissions Help
The dedicated Auckland Governance Legislation select committee has now set a preliminary timetable for hearing submissions.
Submissions
Submissions will be called from early in the week starting 2 June 2009, and will close on 26 June 2009.
Submissions can be sent to the Select Committee online at http://www.parliament.nz or posted to:
Clerk of the Committee
Auckland Governance Legislation Select Committee
Select Committee Office
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON
Information on how to make a submission to a select committee, including a suggested submission format, can be found here.
Hearings
It is currently proposed that hearings will be held throughout Auckland from 6 July 2009. Those who wish to appear before the Select Committee should advise that with their written submission.
GAG will be rolling out its Information Stall in the very near future to a mall or library near you. We will help with advice and information on what the Super City will mean for you. We'll also help you to write or make a video submission to the Select Committee. To book the GAG stall or a speaker for your community group or event please email us on westiegag@gmail.com
Other groups are also providing help and support for writing submissions. Some links to them are below:
McLaren Park & Henderson South Community Initiative are holding a public meeting called SUPERCITY - The super city is on its way. What would you like to know? What say can you have?
Come and ask your questions - What will my community look like? Why will the changes affect me and my area? What difference will this make?
When? Thursday 11th June
Where? Henderson South School Rm 12 - Garelja Rd off Henderson Valley Rd
What time? 6:00pm for food, 6:15pm Start of meeting 7:00pm Close of meeting
RSVP to info@mphs.org.nz tel: 09 838 4820
We will have a small space for children with games and DVD
The Labour Party are holding a series of meetings and workshops to help you make a submission.
Labour Party public meetings:
Auckland Central - 7pm, Thursday 11 June
Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, hosted by Phil Twyford
North Shore - 7pm, Thursday 11 June
North Shore Events Centre, Silverfield & Argus Pl Entrances, Wairau Valley, hosted by Darien Fenton
Waiheke - 1pm, Sunday 14 June
Morra Hall, Oneroa, hosted by Phil Twyford
Manukau - 5.30pm, Monday 15 June
Papatoetoe Town Hall, George St, Papatoetoe, hosted by Ross Robertson, Su’a William Sio, George Hawkins, Ashraf Choudhary
Maungakiekie - 7.30pm, Monday 15 June
College of Chiropractic, 6 Harrison Rd (off Ellerslie-Panmure Highway) Mt Wellington, hosted by Carol Beaumont
Manukau City Council are running a huge series of Have Your Say workshops in English, Te Reo, Mandarin, Punjabi, Hindi, Korean, Samoan, Tongan and Sign languages. Click the link for more details.
SavePapakura.com is holding free submission workshops over the next fortnight to give the public information and an opportunity to write a submission on the spot:
Guide to workshops
• Saturday, June 13: 10am to noon or 1pm to 3pm Selwyn Arcade on Great South Rd
• Thursday, June 18: 6.30pm to 8.30pm Accent Point Level 4 function room
• Saturday, June 20: 10am to noon or 1pm to 3pm Selwyn Arcade
• Monday, June 22: 9am to 11am or 1pm to 3pm, 18 Smiths Ave (old
netball courts) or 5pm to 7pm Papakura Marae.
The Green Party have produced an excellent submission guide online here.
The most recent announcements from the Government on Auckland’s local government can be found here.
More information on the Select Committee can be found here.
You can find information on the ACT Party's Local Government policy here.
The National Party is holding a series of public meetings to gauge public opinion on the super city and how they are handling the process! This is a chance to get your views heard to your local MP. Please attend these meetings and take friends and make sure your voice is heard to ensure that the super city does not lose our super communities!
Details of meetings are:
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, 9 June, 7.00pm, Papatoetoe Cosmopolitan Club 53 Rangitoto Street, Papatoetoe
Nikki Kaye, 10 June, 7.00pm, Pioneer Women’s Hall, Corner High Street and Freyberg Place, Inner City
Dr Jackie Blue, 11 June, 7.00pm, Hillsborough Room, Fickling Centre 546 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Submissions
Submissions will be called from early in the week starting 2 June 2009, and will close on 26 June 2009.
Submissions can be sent to the Select Committee online at http://www.parliament.nz or posted to:
Clerk of the Committee
Auckland Governance Legislation Select Committee
Select Committee Office
Parliament Buildings
WELLINGTON
Information on how to make a submission to a select committee, including a suggested submission format, can be found here.
Hearings
It is currently proposed that hearings will be held throughout Auckland from 6 July 2009. Those who wish to appear before the Select Committee should advise that with their written submission.
GAG will be rolling out its Information Stall in the very near future to a mall or library near you. We will help with advice and information on what the Super City will mean for you. We'll also help you to write or make a video submission to the Select Committee. To book the GAG stall or a speaker for your community group or event please email us on westiegag@gmail.com
Other groups are also providing help and support for writing submissions. Some links to them are below:
McLaren Park & Henderson South Community Initiative are holding a public meeting called SUPERCITY - The super city is on its way. What would you like to know? What say can you have?
Come and ask your questions - What will my community look like? Why will the changes affect me and my area? What difference will this make?
When? Thursday 11th June
Where? Henderson South School Rm 12 - Garelja Rd off Henderson Valley Rd
What time? 6:00pm for food, 6:15pm Start of meeting 7:00pm Close of meeting
RSVP to info@mphs.org.nz tel: 09 838 4820
We will have a small space for children with games and DVD
The Labour Party are holding a series of meetings and workshops to help you make a submission.
Labour Party public meetings:
Auckland Central - 7pm, Thursday 11 June
Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, hosted by Phil Twyford
North Shore - 7pm, Thursday 11 June
North Shore Events Centre, Silverfield & Argus Pl Entrances, Wairau Valley, hosted by Darien Fenton
Waiheke - 1pm, Sunday 14 June
Morra Hall, Oneroa, hosted by Phil Twyford
Manukau - 5.30pm, Monday 15 June
Papatoetoe Town Hall, George St, Papatoetoe, hosted by Ross Robertson, Su’a William Sio, George Hawkins, Ashraf Choudhary
Maungakiekie - 7.30pm, Monday 15 June
College of Chiropractic, 6 Harrison Rd (off Ellerslie-Panmure Highway) Mt Wellington, hosted by Carol Beaumont
Manukau City Council are running a huge series of Have Your Say workshops in English, Te Reo, Mandarin, Punjabi, Hindi, Korean, Samoan, Tongan and Sign languages. Click the link for more details.
SavePapakura.com is holding free submission workshops over the next fortnight to give the public information and an opportunity to write a submission on the spot:
Guide to workshops
• Saturday, June 13: 10am to noon or 1pm to 3pm Selwyn Arcade on Great South Rd
• Thursday, June 18: 6.30pm to 8.30pm Accent Point Level 4 function room
• Saturday, June 20: 10am to noon or 1pm to 3pm Selwyn Arcade
• Monday, June 22: 9am to 11am or 1pm to 3pm, 18 Smiths Ave (old
netball courts) or 5pm to 7pm Papakura Marae.
The Green Party have produced an excellent submission guide online here.
The most recent announcements from the Government on Auckland’s local government can be found here.
More information on the Select Committee can be found here.
You can find information on the ACT Party's Local Government policy here.
The National Party is holding a series of public meetings to gauge public opinion on the super city and how they are handling the process! This is a chance to get your views heard to your local MP. Please attend these meetings and take friends and make sure your voice is heard to ensure that the super city does not lose our super communities!
Details of meetings are:
Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, 9 June, 7.00pm, Papatoetoe Cosmopolitan Club 53 Rangitoto Street, Papatoetoe
Nikki Kaye, 10 June, 7.00pm, Pioneer Women’s Hall, Corner High Street and Freyberg Place, Inner City
Dr Jackie Blue, 11 June, 7.00pm, Hillsborough Room, Fickling Centre 546 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
Monday, June 1, 2009
COMMUNITY DEMANDS ACTION ON SUPER CITY
A public meeting last night in West Auckland gave a clear mandate to organisers the Grassroots Action Group (GAG) for more protest action on the Super City.
Green Party co-leader Russell Norman, and Labour MPs Lynne Pillay and Phil Twyford were among the attendees. The meeting heard how the Government’s Super City proposals would affect individuals, families and our community.
The meeting broke into small groups to discuss what type of action they could take to express their views to the Government and the Select Committee. The ideas put forward included rallies and protests, theatrical street stunts and an information stall, which will make it easy for everyone to make a submission to the Select Committee.
GAG member Paula Bold-Wilson said the meeting achieved its objectives by enabling the community to identify what actions they would like to take. “We got some great ideas from the people here tonight. It’s clear that everyone is frustrated at not only the speed the proposals are being pushed through, but also the lack of consultation from the Government.”
“GAG will be taking an information stall to malls, libraries, maraes, churches and community groups so that members of our community can ask questions, understand what the proposals mean for them. We will be encouraging everyone to make a submission either in writing or using our video camera. The Super City will affect everyone in many ways and it’s vital people can have their say.”
To book the GAG Information Stall for your event or community group and to find out what other action is planned check the GAG web site and email us at westiegag@gmail.com or sign up for our Facebook Group.
GAG member Mels Barton was interviewed by Newstalk ZB today on the issue, you can read more here.
The story is published on Waitakere News with photos.
There are more photos from the meeting here.
Green Party co-leader Russell Norman, and Labour MPs Lynne Pillay and Phil Twyford were among the attendees. The meeting heard how the Government’s Super City proposals would affect individuals, families and our community.
The meeting broke into small groups to discuss what type of action they could take to express their views to the Government and the Select Committee. The ideas put forward included rallies and protests, theatrical street stunts and an information stall, which will make it easy for everyone to make a submission to the Select Committee.
GAG member Paula Bold-Wilson said the meeting achieved its objectives by enabling the community to identify what actions they would like to take. “We got some great ideas from the people here tonight. It’s clear that everyone is frustrated at not only the speed the proposals are being pushed through, but also the lack of consultation from the Government.”
“GAG will be taking an information stall to malls, libraries, maraes, churches and community groups so that members of our community can ask questions, understand what the proposals mean for them. We will be encouraging everyone to make a submission either in writing or using our video camera. The Super City will affect everyone in many ways and it’s vital people can have their say.”
To book the GAG Information Stall for your event or community group and to find out what other action is planned check the GAG web site and email us at westiegag@gmail.com or sign up for our Facebook Group.
GAG member Mels Barton was interviewed by Newstalk ZB today on the issue, you can read more here.
The story is published on Waitakere News with photos.
There are more photos from the meeting here.
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