local government

Categories under local government

Brash and Banks try to profit off vulnerable

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 2:13 pm, September 10th, 2009 - 31 comments

Former National Party leader Dr Don Brash and Auckland Mayor John Banks love making the big bucks. And what better way to do it than hitting the most vulnerable in society. Today the National Party stalwarts are after mental patients. The Herald notes: KiwiSaver targets mental patient An Auckland woman is dismayed her 25-year-old son […]

How big is an uprising?

Written By: r0b - Date published: 6:05 am, September 10th, 2009 - 12 comments

There was an odd little piece in The Herald on Tuesday: Uprising would force Super City changes: PM Prime Minister John Key says the Government will back down on the new Super City boundaries for Rodney and Franklin if there is enough of a community uprising. Mr Key said he would be happy to overrule […]

Owning Auckland

Written By: r0b - Date published: 2:52 pm, September 8th, 2009 - 17 comments

Last Friday the report of the Select Committee on Auckland was tabled in Parliament. The lack of media attention is a measure of how almost irrelevant this committee was. It has been clear for a long time that the decisions are being made by a small group around Key and Hide. The indefatigable Phil Twyford […]

Angry sadsack still at it

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:00 pm, September 7th, 2009 - 27 comments

Michael Laws: get on with your job and stop prancing around on the media stage. Laws has put out a second (yes, a second) press release justifying being rude to some schoolkids who wrote to him. Apparently, Laws can think of no better use of his time and of Whanganui ratepayers’ dollars than continuing to […]

An angry little sadsack

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:30 am, September 3rd, 2009 - 66 comments

I know a dude who went to law school. In one of his lecture theatres was this ‘old guy’ who was always whining (especially about anything to do with Maori), couldn’t keep up with the material, and always seemed intent on making himself the centre of attention. Finally, the dude leaned over to his mate […]

Why no referendum for Auckland

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:30 am, August 31st, 2009 - 15 comments

How come the Government says that the people of Auckland should decide whether they want Maori seats in a referendum after the supercity is formed, but they don’t get to have a referendum on whether they want a supercity at all? It’s clear there is widespread opposition to the plan to merge the existing councils […]

Rodney and John roger Rodney

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 8:54 am, August 26th, 2009 - 18 comments

Maori seats? Who cares eh? If democratic process is ignored to override the Maori, who cares? But what if it’s some nice Pakeha? The Government is going to slice Rodney council in two. The North half goes to Kaipara. The other half goes into the Supercity. The people of Rodney overwhelmingly don’t want […]

If you believe in it, put something on the line

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 7:21 pm, August 25th, 2009 - 54 comments

It’s a strange day when you’re praising Tau Henare. But at least he’s standing up for Maori seats, unlike the pathetic display from Pita Sharples. Henare’s email brought to public attention Hide’s bullying threat to resign over the seats. Today, he kept up the fight having a go at Hide for his wag the dog tactics […]

The smiling snake bites

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 2:36 pm, August 25th, 2009 - 18 comments

The Herald editorial is pretty scathing of Key’s Government for rejecting Maori seats on the super-council but I have to take issue with this par: The Cabinet’s decision to reject Maori seats on the Super City Auckland Council is a retrograde step that undoes much that has been accomplished over the past nine months. What […]

Snake oil

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 1:16 pm, August 25th, 2009 - 18 comments

I’m surprised that the Maori Party have rolled over so easily on the issue of Maori seats on the Auckland council. I will be even more surprised if the Maori people follow suit. Because they have every right to be angry. Remember what Key said of the Hikoi? The hikoi was sparked over the dumping […]

Want local democracy? Too bad

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:55 pm, August 24th, 2009 - 45 comments

Remember when John Key and Rodney Hide were saying that nothing was decided on the super-city, that the select committee would listen to the people and report back the changes they wanted? Well, not only did the people let the Government know time and again that they didn’t want any supercity, a majority of […]

Herald calls win for Hide

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:16 am, August 24th, 2009 - 43 comments

The Herald has an exclusive claiming that National will go with ACT and reject the Maori Party over the issue of Maori seats on the Auckland supercity council. The Herald doesn’t present any rock solid evidence to back up this claim but it’s pretty obvious that’s the way National will go. Creating Maori seats in […]

Will Key go with Hide or Maori Party?

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 9:40 am, August 23rd, 2009 - 12 comments

The issue of Maori seats on the supercity council has inevitably exposed the contradictions inherent in this government. The Maori party wants ’em. ACT won’t agree. Which way will Key go? With Hide. Why? Because Hide’s the only willing to hurt the government to get what he wants. Hide says he’ll resign as minister. It’s […]

Hide would go for principles, Sharples would stay for baubles

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 10:05 am, August 21st, 2009 - 24 comments

Rodney Hide has said that having Maori seats on the Auckland Supercity council would go completely against his party’s principles. So, he would refuse to be the Minister of Local Government taking a Bill through the House that includes Maori seats on the Supercity. He would resign from his portfolios and vote against the legislation. […]

Will Key fold?

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 5:56 pm, August 20th, 2009 - 76 comments

Interesting times for Key. Rodney is trying to wag the dog over Maori seats. He’s also trying it on over the “smacking referendum” (memo to Rodney, you can only throw your toys out of the cot once). The “No” vote organiser “sickos” are already planning their victory party, and already arguing about “the next step”. […]

Will National cave to threats from Hide?

Written By: all_your_base - Date published: 10:31 pm, August 19th, 2009 - 85 comments

An email leaked to 3News suggests that Rodney Hide is holding the government to ransom over denying guaranteed Supercity representation for Maori. The email – reportedly from a senior National Party MP and sent to the whole caucus – reads, in part: Clearly we are at a crossroads. The ACT party has threatened to end […]

Not yours to sell

Written By: lprent - Date published: 6:46 pm, August 16th, 2009 - 28 comments

This video from Phil Twyford, Labour’s spokesperson on the campaign to make sure that Rodney Hide is prevented from buggering Auckland by selling critical assets to his mates in the business community so they can raise prices, diminish maintenance, stop capacity building, and make more profits for themselves. Given the history of natural monopoly privatizations […]

Left needs to unite in Supercity race

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 9:16 am, July 24th, 2009 - 56 comments

A UMR poll out yesterday suggests that Len Brown, currently mayor of Manukau, would be the Left candidate with the best chance of winning the mayoralty of the Auckland Supercity next year. The poll has Brown on 35% ahead of John Banks on 34% – but with margin of error, all that can be said is […]

UMR has Len Brown ahead of Banks

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 1:45 pm, July 23rd, 2009 - 30 comments

UMR’s just released a poll showing Manukau mayor Len Brown as the preferred mayor of the Auckland Super City, slightly ahead of John Banks. The poll shows Brown on 35%, Banks on 34%, and 31% undecided. They’ve also done a matchup between Banks and Auckland Regional Council chair Mike Lee. Banks left Lee in the […]

Not Yours To Sell

Written By: rocky - Date published: 8:11 pm, July 11th, 2009 - 26 comments

Labour MP Phil Twyford is launching a campaign around his bill to protect Auckland’s community assets. www.notyourstosell.co.nz Phil Twyford’s private members bill, the Local Government (Protection of Auckland Assets) Amendment Bill, was pulled from the ballot last week. It will force a referendum before any of Auckland’s public assets are sold off. Criticism from the […]

Private member’s ballot

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 12:28 pm, July 3rd, 2009 - Comments Off on Private member’s ballot

The Left continues to have luck with the private member’s bill ballot, getting both of the bills drawn today just like a couple of weeks back (well, not so much luck, most of the bills in the ballot are from the Left). Metiria Turei’s Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill was drawn, which while worthy […]

â€˜Supercity’ Select Committee Submissions Workshop

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:30 pm, June 18th, 2009 - Comments Off on â€˜Supercity’ Select Committee Submissions Workshop

The University of Auckland’s Political Studies Department is hosting a free public workshop presented by Rob Thomas to assist people interested in making submissions to the Select Committee on Auckland’s Governance. This is a non-partisan community event to encourage community participation in the decision making process. At the workshop we will: Discuss a brief history of the Local […]

Key’s surprise for Aucklanders

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 6:47 am, June 16th, 2009 - 18 comments

Analysis by Rhema Vaithianathan, which hasn’t itself been critiqued but has seen her subjected to the typical vicious personal attacks from National, shows that the supercity will have big economic costs for the areas of most of the existing councils: â€¢ Rodney: annual regional GDP falls by up to $74 million and 270 job losses […]

Watercare – minons of the dictator

Written By: lprent - Date published: 12:00 pm, June 12th, 2009 - 9 comments

Rodney Hide, in his role of Minister for Local Government, has made himself the petty dictator of Auckland’s future. Therefore he is ultimately responsible in that role for a curious request through his minions. Phil Twyford reports at Red Alert.. Council water staff in Auckland have been given a case of the jitters after Councils […]

Fight for Auckland’s local democracy

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:32 pm, June 9th, 2009 - 2 comments

Red Alert, the Labour MPs’ blog, has a list of upcoming meetings on the supercity. Mt Albert – 5.30pm Tuesday 9 June, Owairaka District Primary School, 113 Richardson Rd, Owairaka, hosted by Phil Goff and David Shearer Waitakere – 7.30pm, Wednesday 10 June, Kelston Community Centre, Cnr Great North Road and Awaroa Rd, hosted by […]

The Tory nose-dive roundup

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 11:38 am, June 9th, 2009 - 34 comments

I never seen a government crash so quickly, so hard. The Standard was saying before the election that Key was a two-faced facade and his government would push a rightwing agenda. The media chose to ignore the signs. Too caught up in the fun of getting their boy elected to care about what would happen […]

It’s called sovereignty, stupid!

Written By: rocky - Date published: 6:00 am, June 9th, 2009 - 9 comments

The Minister of Agriculture David Carter really outdid himself in the house last week. First he completely dodged and didn’t address the question put to him by Sue Kedgley on the use of sow crates. Next, clearly feeling the pressure he had a National backbencher ask him a nice easy question with which he took […]

More opposition than ever to supercity

Written By: Marty G - Date published: 5:51 am, June 8th, 2009 - 27 comments

While the mishandling of the Worth scandal grabs all the headlines, the mishandling of the supercity process is still grinding on. And Aucklanders aren’t fooled. A ShapeNZ poll released on Friday shows that Aucklanders want more consultation, want a government that really listens, want a referendum, and don’t want a supercity. Here are the poll’s findings: […]

General Election in 2010?

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 11:26 am, June 4th, 2009 - 11 comments

National promised to do a lot of things in their first term such as: Not selling state assets. Keeping WFF and other entitlements as they were. Keeping superannuation ticking along nicely Giving everyone “north of $50 a week” They have broken two of their promises. No State Asset Sales will turn into a “For Sale” […]

Submit!

Written By: lprent - Date published: 12:17 am, June 3rd, 2009 - 1 comment

Over at No Right Turn, Idiot/Savant writes:- The Auckland Governance Committee has called for submissions on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill. Two copies, by Friday, 26 June 2009, to: Auckland Governance Committee Secretariat Parliament Buildings Wellington The bill contains the details of the government’s Auckland Supercity, including its plans for at-large election, no Maori […]

Granny Herald – getting more irrelevant

Written By: lprent - Date published: 9:00 pm, May 26th, 2009 - 24 comments

This morning’s NZ Herald was interesting. I picked it up while waiting for the bus, rather than reading it on the iPhone in the mobile edition as I usually do. It has fewer ads. I realized yet again that the NZ Herald editorial staff do not live in the same city as I do. Yesterdays […]