Labour MPs are hosting a series of public meetings across Auckland over the next two weeks to help people prepare submissions to the select committee on the super city. The meetings will include briefings on the issues, as well as practical advice on how to prepare a submission. All are welcome and of course there will be time to discuss and debate.
Mt Albert – 5.30pm Tuesday 9 June, Owairaka District Primary School, 113 Richardson Rd, Owairaka, hosted by Phil Goff and David Shearer
Waitakere – 7.30pm, Wednesday 10 June, Kelston Community Centre, Cnr Great North Road and Awaroa Rd, hosted by David Cunliffe, Lynne Pillay and Chris Carter
Auckland Central – 7pm Thursday 11 June, Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, hosted by Phil Twyford
North Shore – 7pm Thursday 11 June, North Shore Events Centre, Silverfield & Argus Pl Entrances, Wairau Valley, hosted by Darien Fenton
Waiheke – 1pm Sunday 14 June, Morra Hall, Oneroa, hosted by Phil Twyford
Manukau – 5.30pm Monday 15 June, Papatoetoe Town Hall, George St, Papatoetoe, hosted by Ross Robertson, Su’a William Sio, George Hawkins, Ashraf Choudhary
Maungakiekie – 7.30pm Monday 15 June, College of Chiropractic, 6 Harrison Rd (off Ellerslie-Panmure Highway) Mt Wellington, hosted by Carol Beaumont
Excellent idea setting up these meetings Phil. The government has said that the select committee is the one process where they will actually listen to what people have to say. Yet at the same time reading through a piece of legislation is probably rather confusing for the majority of people concerned about the Super City, while putting together a submission can also be seen as a fairly overwhelming task.
I’ll try to come along to the Auckland Central one.
Well done Phil, good suggestion. Because the government has said that the select committee is the one process where they will actually listen to what people have to say Pity Labour didn’t take such a proactive approach on encouraging submissions to the Electoral Finance Bill, nor did it respond positively to what bodies like the Human Rights Commission had to say.
Instead, it ignored them.
My only concern is that there is a short window to get submissions in. They close on June 26. Its really important we get the word out and make sure people know this is their only opportunity to have a say.
I guess what would be helpful is to let people know they don’t have to make a 10 page long submission that deeply analyses every aspect of the legislation.
If lots of people can get across the need for the local boards to have power, the need for all councillors to be elected from wards and the need for Maori representation then that will be great.
What are your thoughts on the Mayor’s powers Phil? I’m quite divided on the issue – I feel that they’re potentially too much but I’m not sure how they could or should be curtailed.
Earth to dave, there was an election last year. Labour are no longer the government. Get with the play.
@ Jarbury
I’m reasonably relaxed about the mayor’s powers as proposed. He or she gets to appoint a deputy, committee chairs, have a staff, and propose the budget. Its a more modest package than the London model. The mayor still has to put policies plans and budgets to the Council and get majority support. I was quite convinced by Robin Hambleton the British local government academic who came here as a guest of AUT’s Centre for Local Government. He made a compelling case that you need to give the mayor some extra powers so the role can rise above the competing interests on council and speak for the whole city. Ken Livingstone’s success with congestion charging in London is an oft-cited example of this at work.
Thanks for that Phil. Yeah I think Bob Harvey was actually moaning about the mayoral position not having enough power! Perhaps he has his eyes on the position?
I wonder who will emerge as a serious centre-left mayoral candidate to go up against Banks? Len Brown, Mike Lee or someone from outside the current mayors?
A useful guide from the Green Party for those making submissions: http://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/GreenParty_AucklandCouncil_SubmissionGuide.pdf
Some areas of similarity and some areas of difference with what I think Labour would support. Seems like the Greens want each local board to be a distinct Council – which could be OK as long as we centralise planning and transport.