Waitakere City Council Mayor Bob Harvey says while the council does not oppose the concept of re-organisation in Auckland, there is a real risk that the Government throws the baby out with the bathwater and simply takes away the power of local communities to determine what is important to them.

The council has unanimously approved its submission to the Select Committee on Auckland Governance. 

Among the main points of Waitakere’s submission:

Mayor Bob Harvey says the Auckland region faces massive problems and challenges, particularly in areas including public transport and regional planning.

“But there is a real risk that the Government throws the baby out with the bathwater and simply takes away the power of local communities to determine what is important to them.” 

The Waitakere council’s submission says the Bill does not match the innovation of the bold move to a one city-region and therefore runs the risk of not delivering the gains that purportedly drive this reform.

“Basically if local boards are not given sufficient powers and functions to deliver locally then the Auckland Council will get bogged down and will not be able to concentrate on the major regional issues,” says Mayor Harvey.

“Local boards must be able to make real decisions in consultation with their communities, not just follow prescribed orders.”

Waitakere’s deputy mayor, Penny Hulse, points to recent independent polls which show the majority of Aucklanders are against to the Government’s plans.

“We can only hope that the select committee genuinely listens to the logic of the arguments we are putting forward and also takes account of the huge weight of public opinion that is against these proposals,” she says.

Ms Hulse says the submission looks closely at the purpose of the proposed community councils.

“If the Government gets that wrong and effectively neuters local democracy then Auckland will go backwards,” she says.

“The balance has to be struck between the Auckland council setting policy and vision and the local councils delivering what their residents want and need.”