Manukau Reaction to Auckland Bill

‘No major surprises’ is the reaction of Mayor of Manukau, Len Brown, to the legislation passed by government today, effectively creating a new super Auckland Council.

“We were aware the government was going to create the Auckland Council, and we in Manukau are certainly not opposed to having a strong, unified voice for the region,” he says.

“In fact, subject to some important modifications, we see many benefits in it, but it will require great leadership – both politically and at an executive level.

“We knew the first bill (Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Act 2009) would be passed under urgency and there is nothing in it that is really unexpected.

“The bill establishes the Auckland Council as a unitary authority on 1 November 2010, which is when all the existing councils cease to exist.

“It also establishes the Auckland Transition Agency which will plan and manage all matters relating to the establishment of the new council.”

Mr Brown says the bill is ‘quite prescriptive” but its introduction now gives some clarity around how the existing councils will operate in the period up to the creation of the new unitary Auckland Council.

The second bill, the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill, which sets out the broad outline of the Auckland Council structure and representation issues, will go to a special select committee for public submissions.

“This is when our communities will have the chance to have their say on how they think the Auckland Council should operate,” says Mr Brown.

Manukau City Council is particularly concerned about the number of councillors to be elected to the new council on an ‘at large’ basis as opposed to on a ‘ward’ basis; the number of Local Boards and their roles and functions; and Maori representation.

“We will be making a submission on these, and other parts of the bill, but we are strongly encouraging our people to stand up and be heard as well.

“Manukau has a lot to be proud of and we want to see the things that we value replicated throughout the region, for the good of Auckland as a whole.

“All of us in the Auckland region have to live with what is decided over the next couple of months. We need to make sure we get it right.”