Comments on: Have Your Say on the super city

By: jarbury

jarbury — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:20:18 +0000

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.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:30:36 +0000

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?

By: Phil Twyford

Phil Twyford — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:31:00 +0000

@ 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.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:02:30 +0000

Earth to dave, there was an election last year. Labour are no longer the government. Get with the play.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:01:38 +0000

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.

By: Phil Twyford

Phil Twyford — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:28:58 +0000

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.

By: dave

dave — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:59:32 +0000

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.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:43:23 +0000

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.