Rodney Hide says Aucklanders shouldn’t have a vote on whether or not they want his supercity.
He uses one of the weaker arguments the righties have been running in our comment threads “it’s not just a `yes’ or `no’ question”
Yes it is. The question of how a super-city should be structured is not a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question but the question ‘do you support the super-city that the Government proposes?’ is a ‘yes’/’no’ question and that’s the question that a referendum would ask.
Hide says he is giving “maximum input” to Aucklanders on the structure of the super-city. What exactly is that input?
“I’ve been so actively engaged with the mayors.”.. So, a few meetings with the mayors, well one mayor anyway, that’s “maximum input”? Um, oh yeah, and there will be a short select committee process… down in Wellington. I would hate to see Hide’s idea of “minimum input”.
Anyway, it’s not like Hide is listening during this faux consultation. He is already using taxpayer money to send Aucklanders pamphlets describing the supercity as a fait accompli, as if the Government’s proposed structure is set in stone. There’s no invitation for people to make submissions, no ‘consultation’.
Hide’s arrogance is going to get his boss in trouble. How are Aucklanders going to feel towards a government that won’t listen to them and won’t let have their right to decide on their local government? The last thing that Key needs during the by-election is a backlash in Auckland on top of rising unemployment and a black budget that threatens a winter of discontent.
Do you think Key has the strength to pull Hide into line?
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