Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) - New Zealand Parliament

16 May 2009 Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill 3621
WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2009
(continued on Saturday, 16 May 2009)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (AUCKLAND REORGANISATION) BILL
In Committee
Debate resumed.
New Part 11 Auckland Transition Agency Review Commission
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Rick Barker): Members, the Committee is resumed.
Last night the Committee completed consideration of Part 3 of the Local Government
(Auckland Reorganisation) Bill. It is 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 May, and we now have a
series of new proposals in front of us to insert new parts. Although they have come to us
in arithmetical order to make sure they are checked and everything is OK, we will not
be dealing with them in exactly the same order, so I ask members to bear with us and
with the Clerks. We also have a number of amendments. The first is in the name of the
Hon George Hawkins to insert a new part establishing the Auckland Transitional
Agency Review Commission.
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South): I move, That we report
progress in order to send this bill to a select committee for a period of 4 weeks.
A party vote was called for on the question, That the Committee report progress.
Ayes 51
New Zealand Labour 42; Green Party 6; Māori Party 3.
Noes 64
New Zealand National 58; ACT New Zealand 5; United Future 1.
Motion not agreed to.
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa): These amendments are not
strictly in the right order, but this proposed new part deals with the establishment of the
Auckland Transition Agency Review Commission. This part would not be necessary if
there had been a wee bit of goodwill by the Government and if it had faith in
Aucklanders by giving them a say on this bill. The amendment would not have been
necessary, but now we are here on Saturday, 16 May, which is still the sitting day of 13
May here in Parliament.
Much could be achieved by establishing a commission. The commission would be
headed by a person who is eligible to hold the office of commissioner “if he or she is, or
is eligible to be, a District Court Judge. If an appointee is not a District Court Judge at
the time of appointment as a Commissioner, he or she shall be appointed as a District
Court Judge at that time.” That shows the seriousness and importance we place on the
appointment. We cannot just appoint our mates, as some parts of the bill allow. This
appointment is very important.
The proposed amendment goes on to state: “When considering whether a person is
suitable to be appointed as a Commissioner the Attorney-General should have regard to
the need to ensure that the Court possesses a mix of knowledge and experience in
matters coming before the Court, including knowledge and experience in economic,
commercial, and business affairs, local government and community affairs:” That is
really important.
The amendment mentions local government and community affairs. It is interesting.
We have drafted this amendment so that these now come together. Local government in