The Government's handling of the proposal to date has amounted to a swift dumping of the recommendations from the thoroughly researched and independent Royal Commission and a refusal to engage in any informed debate on the subject, in favour of a 'Rodney knows best' approach.
Auckland will likely serve as the model for eventual reform of local government across the country, so the Government's handling of it should be of concern to people and councils in other cities.
Hide, New Zealand's own neo-liberal poster child has long held the beliefs that less government is good government and that local government should focus on 'core activities', leaving everything else to central government or private enterprises: cap rate increases at the level of inflation and all will be well in the world.
Most would agree that rate increases in recent years have been excessive and the logic of planning infrastructure and providing essential utilities on a region-wide basis stands to reason. I'm not advocating the status quo here - amalgamation's fine - but the Government's actions so far have shown arrogance and a disdain for due process.
Why were the Royal Commission's recommendations thrown out so quickly, without any real debate?
The commission's report was the result of over 12 months of research and consultation. It considered the composition of Auckland's population and social landscape, historical development, international best practice in local governance and more. It was a carefully considered report compiled by three qualified and experienced commissioners; it deserved to be treated with more respect.
The select committee is comprised of a majority of National and Act MPs and is chaired by Associate Minister of Local Government, John Carter, who will likely ensure that the concerns of the masses don't get in the way of the Government's master plan.
Nonetheless, it's the only chance Aucklanders have to be involved in the future of their city, and time is running out.
Comments
Right on David,after getting the news that these Act party guys are into tax paid perks like all of the other MPs and seeing Hide on TV 3 last night when he was "sprung" by Campbel;I am left wondering where Act's Hide gets the idea that he has a mandate to sell citizens assetts to" Big Bussiness", paid for by our ancestors up to date.May be he figures he's going to get a Knight hood like his Mentor ,Pig Farmer, Sir Roger Douglas;now there is a thought?
Aug 19 05:11 pm