New coalition forms to oppose Super City

by David Clendon

If you read the Aucklander you’ll know there has been a new and very positive development in the story of the SuperCity today. A group of concerned citizens and community groups have come together to form an organization called Our Auckland.

They’re campaigning to get National & Act to run a real consultative process with Aucklanders over the make up of the Super City – rather than just bulldozing willy nilly over local citizens’ concerns.

The groups involved are remarkably diverse – ranging from Grey Power to the Islamic Women’s Council to the Weedfree Trust – which I think shows the depth and breadth of opposition in Auckland to the supercity.

This new group, like the Greens are particularly concerned about the undemocratic nature of the Council Controlled Organizations, the risk that many of Auckland’s assets will be effectively privatized during the amalgamation, and the lack of any information about what power will be given to the local boards.

Get ready to vote

They will be running a referendum (both online and through a ballot form included in the Aucklander) on the 6th of May to see what Aucklanders think of the Super City process.  I’ll post a reminder closer to the time but please do get ready to vote (while you still can)!

Also, if you’re interesting in joining the group you can do so here.