Auckland Super-City: A Christchurch Perspective

Cross-post from Just Left.

I'm a one-eyed Cantabrian, so that is the lens through which I watch the Auckland Super-City arguments play out.  It is not my place to say what is right or wrong for Auckland.  I simply don't know enough about Auckland to know what will work and what won't. 

I do know that regardless of what eventuates I would like to see a Progressive Mayor and Progressive Council in power across as much of Auckland as possible. 

I also know that whether it is Auckland, or Invercargill, or Christchurch that people are shortchanged if they lost the Representative function of Local Government in favour of a Governance only business-style of Council.  Such Council's lack legitimacy and confidence of the public.  The more distant the Council (or Councillors) the lower the voter turnout and the less relevant local government is for people.

It seems to be the trend in New Zealand that we like to restructure things.  Sometimes we opt for large centralised power, then a more intimate devolved model, then back again.  It wouldn't surprise me that if in 15 years time we're breaking Auckland up again into multiple Councils.

The key thing at this particular juncture is that the Government listen to the voice of Auckland people.  That may or may not be in a referendum.  The Government must be willing to take a deep breath, listen, and come up with the best model for Auckland that has the confidence of the public.  Their current model does not do that.

Comments

[tim barclay]

You loose use of the word "progressive" always amuses me whereas in effect your party has a number of sacred cows it defends to the hilt. Nothing progressive about that. The most obvious is state monopolies for essential services.