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3732 Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill 16 May 2009 I was particularly interested in the amendments moved by my colleague Carol Beaumont, which were blocked by National and ACT. Hon Darren Hughes: By that nasty man. DARIEN FENTON: Yes; he is a nasty, nasty little man. He is a nasty piece of work. He is spiteful. The amendments moved by Carol Beaumont sought to cap the salary of the chief executive of the transition agency. These are very interesting amendments. I thought it was interesting that they were all voted down. I think that sends a great message to people who are at the moment dealing with the impact of the economic downturn. While ordinary New Zealanders are being told to pull in their belts, this Government is not prepared to exercise fiscal restraint and rein in the power grab that this bill will allow. I saw Bill English come into the House last night and pretend to be the friend of workers. He pretended to be concerned about the Lane Walker Rudkin workers and the Bright Wood workers. I look forward to passing on to those workers the message that National does not think that a chief executive in these economic hard times should have to have a salary cap. Why not? What is wrong with that? While the Bright Wood workers are being dumped with no redundancy entitlements, and while the Minister of Labour sits on her hands and does nothing about redundancy pay and redundancy notices, this Government thinks it is OK for chief executives to have extraordinary pay and not have any restraint on it. I want to honour my colleagues tonight. I think they are a fantastic team. This has not been a game for any of us. We have been doing our job. Each of us who has put forward amendments has done so with care and thoughtfulness. We have debated passionately, and we have done so with one thing on our minds—and that is to have the voice of Aucklanders heard loud and clear, because there is simply no other way for them to be heard. This Government has excluded Aucklanders from having a say and a voice on how the restructuring of their local government will affect them. It is clear that National is in a bit of a panic. There has been a direction that National MPs should get out in their electorates and hold some public meetings. But it is a bit late for that. I do not think it will fix anything for them now, because this bill makes it too late. I know that those National MPs are in for a really hard time when they front up to their electorates, because Auckland people are mad. They are really angry. They remember the promises those members made, like John Key’s promise for a referendum, and the manifesto promise. The last 3 days of putting a stake in the heart of local communities, and of rights and democracy, will not go without a response. I say to National members that when they get out there, they should take their tin helmets and put them on. This is the biggest merger in New Zealand’s history, and I would have expected the Government to be much more careful. There was no need to rush and there was no need for urgency. I tell the National-ACT Government that Aucklanders are watching and Aucklanders are mobilising. Hon Gerry Brownlee: They’re watching and they’re saying: “What on earth are those guys up to?”. DARIEN FENTON: Why does that member not listen for a moment? Finally, I want to acknowledge the workers in Auckland City tonight who, because of this bill, face an uncertain future. I say to them that the Labour Party is with them. We stand beside them and we will continue to fight alongside them. In closing, I want to acknowledge the workers in this place: the food service workers who feed us, the cleaners who cleaned our offices, the messengers, and the staff from the Clerk’s Office. Thank you for supporting the important work of this House in these extraordinary times.
16 May 2009 Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Bill 3733 Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua): It is with great pleasure that I speak in the third reading of the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau) Bill, a timely and important bill. There is one thing I would like to remind this House about. Paragraph 89 of the executive summary of the report of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance states: “The Commission respectfully urges the Government to view its recommendations … which needs to be adopted with urgency so that changes can be implemented in readiness for the October 2010 local body elections. The Commission has consulted widely and believes that, overwhelmingly, Auckland is ready now for positive change.” That is exactly what this excellent National Government is doing. I commend this bill to the House. TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Methinks they do protest too much. When we look over at that side of the House, those members all know it. We have had not just a disappointing Opposition, but also a disgraceful performance for 3 days as Opposition members have trivialised and hijacked one of the most important and widely supported measures affecting the greater Auckland region for many, many years. Let us not delay it a moment longer. I commend this bill to the House. A party vote was called for on the question, That the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau) Reorganisation Bill be read a third time. Ayes 64 New Zealand National 58; ACT New Zealand 5; United Future 1. Noes 52 New Zealand Labour 42; Green Party 6; Māori Party 4. Bill read a third time. Hon DARREN HUGHES (Senior Whip—Labour): I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is not normal for us to sit on a Saturday, and I want to be assured and make sure the House is assured that the National whip is in a position to cast 58 votes. There were number of National MPs seen leaving from the rear of Parliament House over the dinner break, and I do not think they have had the chance to return. I am not calling for a personal vote, but I want the assurance so I can take consideration of what we have been told. Mr SPEAKER: There are no provisions in the Standing Orders to seek such an assurance. The votes voted by the parties are the votes that are counted. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House): I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I just wanted to confirm that technically we are still on Wednesday, 13 May. Mr SPEAKER: Yes, we are. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Thank you. I knew I would get this done before Thursday. Hon DARREN HUGHES (Senior Whip—Labour): It is true that it is the 13 th . . That is a number that is pretty fitting for Gerry Brownlee. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (AUCKLAND COUNCIL) BILL First Reading Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government): I move, That the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill be now read a first time. At the appropriate time I intend to move that this bill be referred to the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee, as per the notice of motion agreed to on Wednesday to consider legislation concerning the governance of Auckland, that the committee report finally to the House on or before 4 September 2009, and that the committee have the authority to meet at any
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