Labour and the Greens are joining forces to ramp up political opposition to the third super city bill.The bill completes the legislative framework for the reform of Auckland's governance.Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has already brought in two bil
Labour and the Greens are joining forces to ramp up political opposition to the third super city bill.
The bill completes the legislative framework for the reform of Auckland's governance.
Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has already brought in two bills, the first covering the structure of the new council and the second the power and roles of the mayor, councillors and local board members.
The third bill will transfer Auckland's assets and liabilities to the new council, protect the interests of staff who move to it and give it the powers it needs to be up and running on November 1 next year.
It will also establish an independent statutory board for Maori participation.
The Maori Party fought hard for reserved Maori seats on the new council, but the Government turned it down.
Labour MP Phil Twyford and Green Party MP Dave Clendon will host meetings around Auckland.
The parties were concerned the public had little time to express views.
"The deadline for submissions is February 12, yet most Aucklanders will have been on holiday over this period and are unlikely to have had time to read it. This echoes the shoddy and cynical approach to consultation the Government has engaged in throughout this reform process," Mr Twyford said.
The bill set up a new transport agency which Mr Twyford said should be run by the council "so councillors are directly accountable for getting the city's public transport system moving".
Mr Clendon said the bill did not set out the powers of local boards.
"Aucklanders want to know local boards will have real powers, not just be toothless. But Rodney Hide has sidestepped the issue, instead allowing the new council to decide what powers get delegated to the boards - which could end up being very few," Mr Clendon said.
The men also said large campaign spending limits would benefit wealthy contenders and were concerned about the potential to privatise the Ports of Auckland and water.
A spokesman for Mr Hide said the minister "encourages discussion and debate about the new local governance structure for Auckland and supports people making submissions on the bill".
