PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: Wednesday 26 May 2010
The Our Auckland coalition is calling on Aucklanders to take part in the debate on the third and final Super City Bill, due to begin on Thursday May 28.
The group has published the phone numbers of all the Auckland Government MPs on its website at www.ourauckland.org.nz and is suggesting people contact them to let them know their views on the key aspects of the Bill.
“The Government has said they are listening to the views of Aucklanders, but we think the proposed changes are just tinkering around the edges, and a corporate city will still be the result instead of the democratic one that people have clearly said they want,” says spokesperson Mels Barton.
“Perhaps if the MPs actually hear from their constituents they will realise how important it is to deliver a city that is democratically accountable to the ratepayers and voters, and not one that is driven by big business interests. So we’re encouraging everyone in Auckland to pick up the phone, call their MP and tell them what they do and don’t want for their city.”
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
TINKERING NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR AUCKLAND
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release – Tuesday 25 May 2010
TINKERING NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR AUCKLAND
The Government Select Committee has reported back on its recommendations for the 3rd Bill on Auckland Governance to set up the Super City. Some minor changes to the legislation have been proposed, but they do not go far enough for the regionwide coalition Our Auckland.
Spokesperson Mels Barton says the proposals are a step in the right direction, but it is too little, too late to satisfy Aucklanders that the Government is listening to them.
“Clearly the Government is surprised at the level of opposition to their proposals, so they have tried to soften the blow slightly, but they are still appointing the Boards of 7 CCOs to run basic services before the Council is elected, and that is just wrong.”
“The Mayor and Council should be deciding which CCOs they need and who should be on the Boards to fit their vision for Auckland’s future – this is the basis upon which they will be elected and they need to be allowed to deliver it. Spending the first few months sacking Board members and reappointing them is not a positive start to a new regime.”
There is still no certainty for the role of Local Boards in the proposals, with the Transition Agency planning to release yet another report closer to the elections. Mels Barton says this is far too late.
“How can people decide whether to stand for their Local Board if they don’t know the size of the job, what it will entail, whether it is full or part-time, or what they will get paid? The Government promised the roles of the Local Boards would be contained in the legislation and they have totally failed to deliver. Prospective candidates need this information now.”
“I think it shows their lack of understanding of Local Government and what will be needed at the coalface, as well as their desire to see as much power vested in the CCOs as possible. Local democracy is inefficient, it’s much quicker to get the select few to make all the decisions; the problem is they’re not the ones living with, or paying for the consequences.”
Other issues that Aucklanders have overwhelmingly expressed concern about have also been ignored in this report:
• The vesting of assets in CCOs and no referendum before they can be sold;
• Removing the right of Aucklanders to determine their participation in the reorganisation until after 2013, especially for those in Rodney, Franklin and Papakura;
• Removing the right for Aucklanders to decide to use MMP rather than First Past the Post to elect their representatives;
• No permanent Pacific and Ethnic advisory panels;
• No Maori seats, just a toothless advisory board;
• No representation for Youth
Mels Barton also does not trust the reassurances in the report that water will not be privatised, which can still happen after 2015.
“It seems a bit rich to be promising that water will not be privatised when at the same time another Bill is being introduced that will enable contracts for the operation of water services to be let to private companies for 35 years. Aucklanders are not stupid and the Government is undermining its standing in Auckland by lying to us. The public ownership of water is something that everyone supports because it is essential to the future health of our communities.”
For immediate release – Tuesday 25 May 2010
TINKERING NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR AUCKLAND
The Government Select Committee has reported back on its recommendations for the 3rd Bill on Auckland Governance to set up the Super City. Some minor changes to the legislation have been proposed, but they do not go far enough for the regionwide coalition Our Auckland.
Spokesperson Mels Barton says the proposals are a step in the right direction, but it is too little, too late to satisfy Aucklanders that the Government is listening to them.
“Clearly the Government is surprised at the level of opposition to their proposals, so they have tried to soften the blow slightly, but they are still appointing the Boards of 7 CCOs to run basic services before the Council is elected, and that is just wrong.”
“The Mayor and Council should be deciding which CCOs they need and who should be on the Boards to fit their vision for Auckland’s future – this is the basis upon which they will be elected and they need to be allowed to deliver it. Spending the first few months sacking Board members and reappointing them is not a positive start to a new regime.”
There is still no certainty for the role of Local Boards in the proposals, with the Transition Agency planning to release yet another report closer to the elections. Mels Barton says this is far too late.
“How can people decide whether to stand for their Local Board if they don’t know the size of the job, what it will entail, whether it is full or part-time, or what they will get paid? The Government promised the roles of the Local Boards would be contained in the legislation and they have totally failed to deliver. Prospective candidates need this information now.”
“I think it shows their lack of understanding of Local Government and what will be needed at the coalface, as well as their desire to see as much power vested in the CCOs as possible. Local democracy is inefficient, it’s much quicker to get the select few to make all the decisions; the problem is they’re not the ones living with, or paying for the consequences.”
Other issues that Aucklanders have overwhelmingly expressed concern about have also been ignored in this report:
• The vesting of assets in CCOs and no referendum before they can be sold;
• Removing the right of Aucklanders to determine their participation in the reorganisation until after 2013, especially for those in Rodney, Franklin and Papakura;
• Removing the right for Aucklanders to decide to use MMP rather than First Past the Post to elect their representatives;
• No permanent Pacific and Ethnic advisory panels;
• No Maori seats, just a toothless advisory board;
• No representation for Youth
Mels Barton also does not trust the reassurances in the report that water will not be privatised, which can still happen after 2015.
“It seems a bit rich to be promising that water will not be privatised when at the same time another Bill is being introduced that will enable contracts for the operation of water services to be let to private companies for 35 years. Aucklanders are not stupid and the Government is undermining its standing in Auckland by lying to us. The public ownership of water is something that everyone supports because it is essential to the future health of our communities.”
Sunday, May 23, 2010
SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT RELEASED
The Select Committee on Auckland Governance has released its report on the 3rd Auckland Bill today. Some changes are proposed in response to the overwhelming opposition from submitters on aspects of the proposals, however nothing substantial has changed.
There will still be 7 CCOs set up and their Boards appointed prior to the Auckland Council being elected, however the Chair & Deputy for each CCO will be appointed by the new Council and there will be some spare seats on the Boards for Council to appoint. Council now also have the ability to sack Board members from all CCOs from Day 1 and appoint new ones.
Roles and powers of the Local Boards have still not been defined. There are some suggestions, but they will not be able to make their own decisions or bylaws. Remuneration for Local Board members & Councilors will have to be defined by July 15.
CCOs will be able to make decisions and bylaws but will have to be more transparent & Council can instruct them to hold meetings that are open to the public. They will have to have regard to the Spatial Plan.
The Spatial Plan will have to have regard to the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act and other local Acts.
The report tries to reassure that water privatisation and sale of public assets is not on the agenda, but the release of the Local Government Amendment Act Bill this week shows that this is clearly untrue.
Public assets will be transferred to CCOs.
The Pacific and Ethnic Advisory Panels will still only last for 1 term of 3 years.
The Maori Advisory Board will still have no power to influence Council decisions.
There will be no Youth Council.
You can download the full report here.
There will still be 7 CCOs set up and their Boards appointed prior to the Auckland Council being elected, however the Chair & Deputy for each CCO will be appointed by the new Council and there will be some spare seats on the Boards for Council to appoint. Council now also have the ability to sack Board members from all CCOs from Day 1 and appoint new ones.
Roles and powers of the Local Boards have still not been defined. There are some suggestions, but they will not be able to make their own decisions or bylaws. Remuneration for Local Board members & Councilors will have to be defined by July 15.
CCOs will be able to make decisions and bylaws but will have to be more transparent & Council can instruct them to hold meetings that are open to the public. They will have to have regard to the Spatial Plan.
The Spatial Plan will have to have regard to the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act and other local Acts.
The report tries to reassure that water privatisation and sale of public assets is not on the agenda, but the release of the Local Government Amendment Act Bill this week shows that this is clearly untrue.
Public assets will be transferred to CCOs.
The Pacific and Ethnic Advisory Panels will still only last for 1 term of 3 years.
The Maori Advisory Board will still have no power to influence Council decisions.
There will be no Youth Council.
You can download the full report here.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
AUCKLANDERS REJECT GOVERNMENT PROCESS ON SUPERCITY
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed until 6am Thursday 20 May 2010
The Our Auckland referendum results show a massive 96% of respondents 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.
Our Auckland spokesperson Mels Barton says that this shows how disenfranchised Aucklanders are from the decisions being made about their city. “The Government has lost the support of Aucklanders for these changes by throwing away the Royal Commission's recommendations, ignoring submissions and bulldozing ahead with unpopular plans too quickly and without proper consultation or consideration. They have no mandate from Aucklanders for the Government model that is being proposed.”
In addition, 92% did not want traditional council services like water, transport, economic development and tourism and events to be operated by corporate, unelected CCOs, and 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.
Mels Barton says “People want local decisions to be made locally and for their assets to be controlled by democratically elected representatives, not by corporate CCOs. They have lost trust to the point that they want a binding referendum before key decisions affecting these assets are made. If the Government wants to win back Aucklanders then they need to start listening and give democratic control back to the city.”
“Slowing down the process of change by allowing the newly elected Council and Mayor to make decisions on what CCOs to set up and who should be on their boards would be a good start. Enabling Local Boards to be effective by giving them the power to make decisions and bylaws, along with realistic funding and resourcing, would restore some confidence that local voices will be heard.”
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.
Around 51% of people voted online and 49% via post or ballot box, with ballot boxes placed in every library in the Auckland Region apart from Franklin, where libraries are not council-run.
Mels Barton says the results show huge interest from all demographics, with particularly high counts recorded from the ballot boxes placed in Panmure Library and Mt Wellington's Riverside (Taha Awa) Community Centre, and the majority of the postal votes being from older people. “We even had one envelope with 19 votes from Epsom, Rodney Hide's electorate, all opposing the Government's process. So people from every walk of life are unhappy with the way this is being handled - and that must send a strong message to the Government to listen and take action to change things, while they still can. It's not too late to make the new Auckland into a democratic city, not a corporate one, and have an Auckland Council that all Aucklanders can feel part of and proud of.”
The total number of valid votes cast in 8 days was 8973.
Embargoed until 6am Thursday 20 May 2010
The Our Auckland referendum results show a massive 96% of respondents 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.
Our Auckland spokesperson Mels Barton says that this shows how disenfranchised Aucklanders are from the decisions being made about their city. “The Government has lost the support of Aucklanders for these changes by throwing away the Royal Commission's recommendations, ignoring submissions and bulldozing ahead with unpopular plans too quickly and without proper consultation or consideration. They have no mandate from Aucklanders for the Government model that is being proposed.”
In addition, 92% did not want traditional council services like water, transport, economic development and tourism and events to be operated by corporate, unelected CCOs, and 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.
Mels Barton says “People want local decisions to be made locally and for their assets to be controlled by democratically elected representatives, not by corporate CCOs. They have lost trust to the point that they want a binding referendum before key decisions affecting these assets are made. If the Government wants to win back Aucklanders then they need to start listening and give democratic control back to the city.”
“Slowing down the process of change by allowing the newly elected Council and Mayor to make decisions on what CCOs to set up and who should be on their boards would be a good start. Enabling Local Boards to be effective by giving them the power to make decisions and bylaws, along with realistic funding and resourcing, would restore some confidence that local voices will be heard.”
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.
Around 51% of people voted online and 49% via post or ballot box, with ballot boxes placed in every library in the Auckland Region apart from Franklin, where libraries are not council-run.
Mels Barton says the results show huge interest from all demographics, with particularly high counts recorded from the ballot boxes placed in Panmure Library and Mt Wellington's Riverside (Taha Awa) Community Centre, and the majority of the postal votes being from older people. “We even had one envelope with 19 votes from Epsom, Rodney Hide's electorate, all opposing the Government's process. So people from every walk of life are unhappy with the way this is being handled - and that must send a strong message to the Government to listen and take action to change things, while they still can. It's not too late to make the new Auckland into a democratic city, not a corporate one, and have an Auckland Council that all Aucklanders can feel part of and proud of.”
The total number of valid votes cast in 8 days was 8973.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
LAST CHANCE TO VOTE IN SUPERCITY REFERENDUM
PRESS RELEASE - OUR AUCKLAND
For immediate release – Thursday 13 May 2010
Voting closes at 5pm on Friday 14 May in the Super City “People’s Referendum” run by the coalition group Our Auckland.
If you haven’t yet voted it’s not too late to have your say on the shape of the future Auckland that you want.
Our Auckland spokesperson Mels Barton says the campaign has gone well so far. “We’ve had great feedback from all over the Region with people calling and emailing to say thanks for doing this and giving us a voice.”
“We want everyone to participate and tell the Government what kind of Auckland they want – a democratic or a corporate city – it’s our Auckland and our future at stake here. So vote now and make sure your family and friends vote too.”
You can vote online at www.ourauckland.org.nz or at a ballot box. These are located in every library in the Region (other than Franklin where the libraries are not Council-run).
Anyone wishing to help the campaign should contact the team on ourauckland@gmail.com or call the hotline on 021 210 1711.
The results will be published in The Aucklander on Thursday 20 May.
For immediate release – Thursday 13 May 2010
Voting closes at 5pm on Friday 14 May in the Super City “People’s Referendum” run by the coalition group Our Auckland.
If you haven’t yet voted it’s not too late to have your say on the shape of the future Auckland that you want.
Our Auckland spokesperson Mels Barton says the campaign has gone well so far. “We’ve had great feedback from all over the Region with people calling and emailing to say thanks for doing this and giving us a voice.”
“We want everyone to participate and tell the Government what kind of Auckland they want – a democratic or a corporate city – it’s our Auckland and our future at stake here. So vote now and make sure your family and friends vote too.”
You can vote online at www.ourauckland.org.nz or at a ballot box. These are located in every library in the Region (other than Franklin where the libraries are not Council-run).
Anyone wishing to help the campaign should contact the team on ourauckland@gmail.com or call the hotline on 021 210 1711.
The results will be published in The Aucklander on Thursday 20 May.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE SUPER CITY
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: Wednesday 5 May 2010
Our Auckland invites everyone interested in the Super City Referendum to help spread the word about Our Auckland's “Weekend of Action” by attending a meeting at 10am on Saturday 8 May at the Ponsonby Community Centre.
“We want everyone to have their say on the Super City, and not everyone has access to the internet, so our aim is to get ballot papers and ballot boxes out to every corner and community of the Auckland Region. To do that we need help so come along and pick up a voting pack for your group or community,” says spokesperson Mels Barton from Waitakere City.
“We only have eight days for voting from May 6-14, so getting people involved is vital. We need everyone to spread the word and make sure everyone casts their vote - it's the only one you're going to get.”
Voting will be possible via the Our Auckland website at www.ourauckland.org.nz and a ballot paper will be printed in The Aucklander newspaper (free with the NZ Herald on Thursday 6 May). There will also be a more detailed survey on the website for people to express their views.
Photocopies of the ballot paper are welcome, and completed papers can be sent to Our Auckland, The Aucklander, PO Box 32, Auckland Mail Centre. Ballot boxes will also be available at libraries in North Shore City and Rodney District.
Volunteers can also sign up to the Our Auckland group on Facebook, via the website at www.ourauckland.org.nz or follow OurAuckland on Twitter.
The Our Auckland campaign hotline is 021 210 1711.
For immediate release: Wednesday 5 May 2010
Our Auckland invites everyone interested in the Super City Referendum to help spread the word about Our Auckland's “Weekend of Action” by attending a meeting at 10am on Saturday 8 May at the Ponsonby Community Centre.
“We want everyone to have their say on the Super City, and not everyone has access to the internet, so our aim is to get ballot papers and ballot boxes out to every corner and community of the Auckland Region. To do that we need help so come along and pick up a voting pack for your group or community,” says spokesperson Mels Barton from Waitakere City.
“We only have eight days for voting from May 6-14, so getting people involved is vital. We need everyone to spread the word and make sure everyone casts their vote - it's the only one you're going to get.”
Voting will be possible via the Our Auckland website at www.ourauckland.org.nz and a ballot paper will be printed in The Aucklander newspaper (free with the NZ Herald on Thursday 6 May). There will also be a more detailed survey on the website for people to express their views.
Photocopies of the ballot paper are welcome, and completed papers can be sent to Our Auckland, The Aucklander, PO Box 32, Auckland Mail Centre. Ballot boxes will also be available at libraries in North Shore City and Rodney District.
Volunteers can also sign up to the Our Auckland group on Facebook, via the website at www.ourauckland.org.nz or follow OurAuckland on Twitter.
The Our Auckland campaign hotline is 021 210 1711.
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