Super city sparks flying

A super region in the Waikato would essentially concentrate too much power in a small number of hands, according to the Labour Party, which is opposing what it has labelled a "forced amalgamation".

Hamilton-based Labour list MP Sue Moroney said creating a super region of Waikato's 12 councils would be undemocratic and result in "strange bureaucratic lines being drawn", forcing communities with little in common into making decisions together.

Ms Moroney said the ongoing local government reform in Auckland was a prime example of councils being thrown together.

"All these communities in Auckland are now up in arms because they see themselves being bulldozed into amalgamations with areas that they have nothing in common with.

"It could happen here. The motivation is around building a lot of power for a very small number of people."

For ex-ample, the Thames-Coromandel district faced very different issues from Hamilton, she said.

"If you look at having amalgamations that would be that broad – and that's certainly one of the proposals that's on the table – then it's not going to work well because the community of interest is not strong."

Ms Moroney said she was sceptical about the power of the local boards within each ward of Auckland's super city.

"The feedback I've had is that there has virtually been no submissions in favour of the new structures largely because people see them as actually taking away the community's ability to influence decision-making."

She said Labour would not support "forced" amalgamations.

"We're opposed to that super-city model where central government forces a whole range of local authorities to amalgamate, because it's undemocratic."

It had the potential to be a major disaster, she said.

But former Hamilton Mayor Margaret Evans, who is pro a super region for the Waikato, disputed claims of a forced amalgamation.

"In Auckland it was local people who pushed for the changes."

They included former Thames-Coromandel Mayor Alasdair Thompson as Auckland Employers and Manufacturers chief executive, who was instrumental in getting the previous Labour Government to set up the Royal Commission into the Auckland reform.

"It is the same here. Maintaining the status quo, or tinkering around the edges, is not the answer. Bold change is required, and that is what the commission is recommending (in Auckland)."

Mrs Evans said politicians did not lead the discussions in Auckland, nor was the voice of the people barely heard, nor was the amalgamation forced.

"The commission received over 3500 written submissions, heard 550 oral submissions in formal hearings in nine locations throughout the Auckland region, and held sessions with Maori, Pacific and ethnic communities plus various other organisations, groups and individuals before reporting (publicly) in March 2009.

"The submissions were overwhelmingly in support of change."

Meanwhile, the Waikato and Hauraki districts have been awarded more chunks of land initially earmarked for the Auckland super-city. Yesterday the Local Government Commission unveiled the super-city region boundaries where the Franklin Ward had lost some of its proposed southern boundary to Hauraki and Waikato districts.

- © Fairfax NZ News