OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENT

28 May 2010

Paula Bennett Nikki Kaye
MP for Waitakere MP for Auckland Central
429 Great North Road 82 College Hill
Henderson Freemans Bay

Dear Paula and Nikki,

We are writing this open letter to you as members of John Key’s Government. This letter is a request to table the issues outlined below before the committee sessions regarding the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, currently before the House.

As you may be aware our organization has recently polled Aucklanders to find out their views on the Government proposals contained in this Bill. We had over 9,000 responses. Of these 96% do not approve of the way the Government is setting up the new Auckland Council, 95% do not think that enough attention has been paid to the wishes of Aucklanders and 94% do not think the Government has officially asked them what kind of Auckland they want.

In addition, 92% did not want core Council services such as water, transport, economic development, and tourism and events to be operated by corporate, unelected CCOs. In addition, 92% would not give their permission for CCOs to take charge of Auckland's most important assets.

95% thought that there should be a binding referendum of Aucklanders before significant assets like water, ports, airport shares, museums and stadia were sold or privatised.

90% wanted decisions about issues that affect their neighbourhood to be made by their Local Board, and 85% did not think it was fair that Local Boards could not make decisions and bylaws, but only make recommendations to the Auckland Council.

56% agreed that there should be dedicated seats for Maori on the Auckland Council and 67% agreed that there should be permanent Ethnic and Pacific Advisory Panels, as recommended by the Royal Commission.

88% thought that people living on the fringe of Auckland should be asked whether they wanted to be part of the new Auckland structure. Of those who responded only 17% came from Rodney, Franklin, Papakura or the Gulf Islands, with 81% coming from the metropolitan cities of Auckland, North Shore, Waitakere and Manukau.

We think that these results send a very clear message to the Government that the people of Auckland want a democratic city, not the corporate one that has been outlined in the Bill. Unfortunately the changes proposed by the Select Committee, although a step in the right direction, fall far short of adequately addressing these concerns.

Therefore we request that the Government amend the Bill to meet the following requirements. We then believe it would be acceptable to more Aucklanders than it is at present and form a solid foundation from which to lead Auckland forward to a more secure future for everyone.

• The decision regarding CCOs (which services should be delivered by them, if any, who is on the boards and how they are appointed) to be made by the incoming Mayor and Councillors and be based on their vision for Auckland not by the Government in advance.

• The setting up of CCOs to be delayed until after the new Council is elected and settled in. The status quo should remain until then.

• The Local Boards to have real decision-making powers and adequate budgets and resources allocated via an appropriate formula set out in legislation to deliver local services and local accountability.

• The Local Boards, Council and CCOs to be formally linked together so that decision making and accountability can be communicated, accountable, effective and efficient.

• The Pacific and Ethnic Boards to be made permanent to ensure New Zealand's most culturally diverse region has a strong and sustained influence in decision making.

• There to be a binding referendum (vote or poll) of the people of Auckland before any sale of substantial public assets can be made and for all public assets to be held on the people’s behalf by the Auckland Council and not be transferred to the CCOs.

• Requirements for CCOS to have public meetings, publish agendas and minutes, and consult on issues affecting communities to be set out clearly in legislation.

• Three dedicated Maori seats as per the recommendation of the Royal Commission.

We look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Mels Barton on behalf of
Our Auckland and all Aucklanders