Select Committee Submissions Deadline

The Government has announced that the final deadline for submissions to the Select Committee on Auckland Governance will be 26 JUNE 2009.

This gives only 4 weeks for submissions on the biggest change to local government in New Zealand's history. Normal submission periods are a minimum of 8 weeks long.

GAG will give guidance on making a submission and have an easy submission format on this website very soon. We will also be taking an Information Stall out into malls and libraries so you can ask questions and make your submission there.

If you'd like to book GAG's Information Stall for your meeting, event or community group please email us at westiegag@gmail.com

 

GAG Public Meeting on SuperCity

Find out what the SuperCity will mean for YOU....

Join GAG for an interactive public meeting to help you understand what the SuperCity will mean for you and find out what you can do to have your say.

Not just a platform for politicians, this is for the community, by the community.

Educate, inform, empower.

Please join us!

PUBLIC MEETING hosted by the

Grassroots Action Group (GAG)

at Kelston Community Centre

on Monday 1 June at 7.30pm

www.gag.net.nz

Please spread to your networks, thanks.

GRASSROOTS AUCKLAND TURNS OUT

Over 7000 people marched up Queen Street on a wet Monday lunchtime to show their support for guaranteed Maori representation on the new Super City Council.

The Government has proposed dumping the 3 Maori seats recommended by the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

Grassroots Action Group member Paula Bold-Wilson (no Te Arawa) marched with her family and friends and said “the strength of support shown by so many ordinary people turning out here today shows that this issue is not just important to Maori.”

“It’s critical Tangata Whenua get the representation the Royal Commission report called for, and that we Honour the Treaty. I was proud to march for that today. There’s also a real swell from the grassroots of people unhappy with the way the SuperCity is being railroaded through and that everyone’s views on many other aspects are being ignored.”

The Grassroots Action Group www.gag.net.nz is holding a public meeting to discuss the Super City issue on Monday 1 June at Kelston Community Centre at 7.30pm.

GAG is also planning to take information out into communities by running a stall in libraries, shopping centres, swimming pools and community groups to enable people to learn more about the issues and make a simple submission to the Royal Commission. “GAG’s mission is to enable everyone to have a say and not be put off because they’ve never made a submission before. We want to make it easy and simple” said Paula. “Even if you can’t write, we’ll have a video booth so you can make a spoken submission”.

You can see coverage of the Hikoi on these websites:

TV3: http://www.3news.co.nz/Video/National/tabid/309/articleID/105712/cat/525/Default.aspx#video

TV1: http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/thousands-demand-maori-seats-super-city-2756388

Photos on our Facebook Group, for everyone to see (not just FB members)

Our key messages

GRASSROOTS ACTION GROUP (GAG)

Our Place, Our Voices

Participation - Protection - Partnership

GAG's purpose is to: 

• Help you understand what the Government’s plans for Auckland really mean.
  
• Help you make your views heard.
  
• Ensure the politicians understand how important it is to listen to you.
  

GAG believes:

• That everyone should be able to make a submission to the select committee on Auckland Governance.
  
• That community interests matter just as much as business, and healthy debate can only produce a better solution.
  
• That for the Super City to really work it needs everyone to have their views and needs represented.
  
• That the speed and way in which the Government is forcing its proposals onto Aucklanders is not democratic.
• That public ownership of current assets should be protected by legislation.

GAG believes Auckland needs:
Effective Representation via

• Specific Maori seats on the Auckland Council.
  
• All Councillors being elected by local wards not “at large” (by the whole Region).
  
• The community being enabled to have a real say in how their rates should be spent.
  

Appropriate Powers via

• A Mayor elected at large (by the whole Region) with no more power than existing city Mayors.
  
• Local representation with real power in local boards or community councils spending our money on our community.

Effective working via

• Strategic issues such as transport, water and planning being managed Regionally
  
• Local priorities being determined locally via community consultation
  

Having your assets protected via

• Legislation preventing privatisation of current public assets such as libraries, swimming pools, parks, art galleries, water, cemeteries etc.

GAG will be taking a video submission booth and easy information stall to shopping malls, churches, libraries, community groups and anywhere else we can to enable everyone to ask questions and have their say in a way that works for them.

Help us to help you - JOIN GAG - or book the GAG Stall to visit your community or event.

Email us at westiegag@gmail.com

Join our Facebook Group

GAG is an independent group and a member of the Community Coalition for Auckland: Voices of Tamaki Makaurau