by David Clendon
As I blogged last week a new community coalition, Our Auckland, has formed to oppose the creation of the Super City.
Our Auckland believe that Aucklanders haven’t been given a fair chance to have a say on the government’s decisions in regard to Auckland. Because of this they’re giving people a chance to vote on the government’s decisions regarding the Super City.
To be eligible to vote you must live in the Auckland region and be on the electoral role. Their key question is:
Do you approve of the way in which the Government is setting up the new Auckland Council (the “Super City”)?
So if you live in Auckland please do take 30 seconds to give your opinion. There are also some other more detailed questions about the local boards and council controlled organizations for those with a few more minutes.
Their referendum is being publicized by the Aucklander (the local paper in Auckland that is distributed with the Herald) so it seems likely they’ll have quite a good response. The results will be available on 20th May and I’ll keep you posted.
I think it’s great to see this group working to highlight the lack of democratic control over the process of setting up the Super City. Up until now too much has been bulldozed into place with little real consultation or consideration of Aucklanders’ feelings. What do you think about the way the government’s setting up the Super City?
The Select Committee (which I sit on) is due to report back in a couple of weeks, and that will give people a better idea of whether the government has been listening to submitters’ concerns.
Published in Environment & Resource Management | Justice & Democracy by David Clendon on Mon, May 10th, 2010
Tags: Auckland, David Clendon, democracy, frog blog, Green Party NZ, local government
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
One correction, OurAuckland does not oppose the supercity per se. In fact many Aucklanders agree in principle with the idea of a well designed local government for Auckland. 1000s made submissions on the original Royal commission and to subsequent select committee. The issue is whether the proposed legislation is democratic and accurately reflects what Aucklanders want for their city. A great many people feel that the consultation process has been a sham and bar a few minor adjustments the city will be setup to suit outmoded conservative and corporate ideology rather than genuine local democracy.
Andrew Watkins
OneWaiheke (OurAuckland Coalition group)
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The link doesn’t work – go to http://www.ourauckland.org.nz/the-campaign/ and click on ‘Log In to Vote’ under ‘Campaign’ at the top.
[frog: Thanks A1kmm - links now fixed.]
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Penny Bright from the waterpressure group has done a huge amount of work on the supercity selloff (at corporate mates’ rates). I cannot believe all the underground manipulations of our assets by people/corporates with a history of selling off/ppp to privatise other country’s assets.
The control of water is at the heart of everything, countrywide. This is why we have had our democratic right to have a say on the first bill and heaven forbid to have a vote on it removed from the human rights of New Zealand. Like they said over Ecan council not being allowed to have an election in 2013 – ‘because they might give the wrong answer’.
This alone is a good reason to vote
“NO I don’t approve of the way in which the Government is setting up the new Auckland Council (the “Super City”)”
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