Island action hots up over super-city

BY: DIANA WORTHY

Waiheke residents are being urged to join in the submission process on government's final piece of legislation to enable one council for the whole region by spring.

Submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill have to be in by early next month and islanders are being offered several ways to find out more.

The Waiheke Community Board will be meeting tonight and discussing its own draft submission (see separate story).

The board called for residents' views at a meeting before Christmas.

MPs from the Green and Labour parties will be holding a joint meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at Morra Hall, in Oceanview Road, Oneroa, from 7.30pm.

Labour MPs Phil Twyford and Jacinda Adern will be joined by Green MP David Clendon at that meeting to talk about concerns
over proposals in the third bill and how people can make submissions.

Both parties have submission guides on their websites.

National MP for Auckland Central Nikki Kaye is holding a submissions workshop this Saturday, January 30, from 1pm - also at Morra Hall.

And the Waiheke Island Community Planning Group follows up with its own meeting about the bill and submissions process next week.

It will be on Sunday, February 7 at Artworks, Oneroa, from 10am and all islanders are welcome to attend.

Meanwhile, Auckland City Council Hauraki Gulf islands' councillor and community board member Denise Roche will be at Ostend market this Saturday, January 30 and the following Saturday, February 6 - Waitangi Day.

She will be setting up a stall to provide information about the bill and how to make submissions.

"I'm doing the information stalls rather than a public meeting because we're already having two public meetings called by central government politicians and to do more just means we all risk suffering from meeting fatigue.

"A stall also appeals to me because it's more informal and people can stop and chat if they want," says Ms Roche.

She will also be collating easy-to-understand information about the bill to help residents wanting to make submissions.

Submissions must reach the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee, Level 10 Bowden House, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 by midnight on Friday, February 12.

They can also be made on parliamentary website www.parliament.nz

Public hearings are expected to start in Auckland on Monday, February 22.

- Waiheke Marketplace