NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I am delighted to rise to speak on the Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill. We are on the cusp of the most significant change in governance in Auckland since our city was first formed. History will show that this Government has finally done what people have been calling for, for decades.
There have been 18 months of consultation, $4 million spent, and 3,500 submissions, and we are now implementing a key recommendation of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance. I am very pleased, as well, that the Government has decided to have a separate select committee for this. The Opposition is squealing, but this dedicated select committee to focus on issues of Auckland governance is exactly what is needed. That is what Auckland deserves, and that is what it will get. The establishment of a dedicated committee shows the level of importance that our Government gives to Auckland governance. It will give Aucklanders the ability to be involved in the consultation, on issues like the make-up of the council and the powers of local boards.
I think it is useful to discuss why we desperately need this reform. The royal commission said: “Auckland’s regional council and seven territorial authorities lack the collective sense of purpose, constitutional ability, and momentum to address issues effectively for the overall good of Auckland. Disputes are regular among councils over urban growth and the development and sharing of key infrastructure, including roads, water and waste facilities.” In summary, one council will enable us to deliver on regional priorities. We support it, the royal commission supported it, and the Labour Party supports it. Regardless of its filibustering, the Opposition supports one council, and that is what we are implementing. People have had enough of sitting in traffic because regional transport priorities cannot be delivered. Community organisations are sick of having to apply to different councils for community funding. They have limited resources, and this legislation will set in train a process that will reduce the bureaucracy they will have to go through to obtain funding. I am proud of that, because community organisations are struggling at the moment, and this will reduce bureaucracy for them.
Auckland has over one-third of our country’s population. It is forecast to have a population of 2 million people by 2050. We are the engine room of the New Zealand economy. This legislation is good not just for Auckland but also for the rest of New Zealand. I know that members in this House from other regions of New Zealand are quite excited about this legislation going through. The need for major reform was highlighted by the royal commission when it said “Maintaining the status quo, or tinkering around the edges, is not the answer. Bold change is required.” That is what you have got from this Government—
H V Ross Robertson: Point of order—
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member knows, and I indicated to her, that she cannot bring me into the debate.
NIKKI KAYE: That is what Aucklanders have got from this legislation. As the royal commission highlighted, the existing structures do not work. The commission said that Auckland’s regional council and seven territorial authorities lack purpose. In particular, the royal commission identified two broad problems evident in current Auckland local government arrangements. The first was around regional governance, and the fact that it is weak and fragmented. I am proud that our Government is doing something about that. The commission said this was the best way to tackle the region’s problems, such as suffocating red tape, increasing rates, transport bottlenecks, and lost opportunities.
The next key issue the royal commission dealt with was around community engagement. The irony of the structure we have adopted, which will go to the people of Auckland for consultation, is that it is a shot in the arm for democracy for Auckland: Aucklanders will get much more local democracy as a result of the model we are offering. I challenge members on the other side of the House. The problem with members opposite is that they have no consistent policy on this issue; they are all talking from different song sheets. We have Ross Robertson and George Hawkins, who say they support the royal commission, which they set up. However, they say they support the royal commission, but then they criticise the at-large council seats. It is really difficult to find out the Labour Party’s policy on this issue. The Labour Party needs to issue a statement today, letting the people of Auckland—
Moana Mackey: We have already!
NIKKI KAYE: No, the Labour Party has issued a statement that says what it does not support; it has not issued a statement saying what its model is. I challenge the Labour Party to do that.
I come back to community engagement, which is crucial. I am very proud that communities like those of Waiheke and Great Barrier may finally get some of the autonomy they want. I am proud that I will be going around my communities with the Hon John Carter, the great Hon John Carter—
Hon Darren Hughes: The great honourable!
NIKKI KAYE: —the great Hon John Carter—to consult with communities like Waiheke and Great Barrier about the powers of the local boards. I think that it is crucial to do that; it is a great day for some of those communities. We have set a process in train so that they may finally get some of the autonomy that they want.
I am very proud to be standing here to support the bill. We are on the cusp of one of the most significant changes for Auckland. I know it is not just Aucklanders who will end up supporting these proposals; it is also those in the rest of the country. Finally we will be able to have movement forward for Auckland. We will be able to get rid of those transport bottlenecks. We will be able to cut the red tape and ensure that community organisations do not have to apply to a whole lot of different councils for funding. But, more important, we will also enable and put in train a process that will allow communities like Waiheke and Great Barrier, as well as the communities of Grey Lynn and Ponsonby, to get more local representation. Our model is stronger in terms of local representation. Labour has no policy; it is all over the place. Its members cannot make up their minds, and they cannot issue a statement that shows which model they support. They set up the royal commission, and they support one council, but they are making themselves irrelevant on a day that is historic for Auckland.
I am proud of this bill. I am proud of being the member for Auckland Central, and I will be out there talking to people in the community and moving this forward.
Continues…
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : Mr Chair, I felt the need to make a call because I think it is astonishing that the most interesting thing has happened. Ten minutes ago we finally got a position from Labour; we finally got a position from Labour members. They support the royal commission, but only in certain aspects. What was astonishing is that Phil Twyford admitted to this House that Labour is opposed to local boards. That is right! So every Auckland MP will be able to go around Auckland and be very clear that Labour is opposed to local boards. [Interruption] If Labour is not opposed to local boards, then I want Labour members to make very clear their position on them. Labour needs to make its position very clear, because otherwise Auckland members of Parliament will be making it very clear to the people of Auckland.
It is very ironic that Labour members are getting up and talking about gutting local democracy when they may be opposed to the very unit of democracy that can deliver good democracy for Auckland. I ask Phil Twyford and the Labour members to be very clear about where they stand in regard to local boards, because local boards have the potential to offer real local representation in communities like Waiheke and Great Barrier. Labour needs to set out its position very clearly. Is it opposed, or is it not?
