10. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Local Government
Does he stand by his statement regarding his Auckland reforms that “in my view all aspects of the reform process are progressing well …”?
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government) Link to this
Yes. In fact, the full quote was: “all aspects of the reform process are progressing well, considering the size and complexity of the task.” I would like to say today that the reform process is going extremely well, and I am particularly looking forward to the report back of the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill on Monday.
Does he think that the nearly 60 percent of Aucklanders who, according to the New Zealand Herald’s recent poll, are against his handing over three-quarters of council business to unelected council-controlled organisations will agree that the reforms are progressing well?
I think that a lot of the concerns that Aucklanders have expressed have been heard loudly and clearly by the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee when hearing submissions, and I think that Aucklanders will be pleased with the results of the select committee’s deliberations, which will be announced on Monday.
Does he consider it to be good progress that well over half of Aucklanders believe that his super-city will be a worse place to live in?
Hon Shane JonesIn commenting about Aucklanders, one Aucklander said the reforms were well overdue and that the previous Government had done nothing. That commentator was Phil Twyford, and I am actually very pleased that Aucklanders are on board. There are some concerns about the change that is occurring, and I am sure that those concerns will be addressed, firstly, on Monday, and then, as the changes are progressively announced, through to 1 November.
When he thinks he has made good progress, but well over half of Aucklanders, as reported in the New Zealand Herald, believe that he has made a mess of the changes, which viewpoint is more credible?
We are concentrating on getting a good result. I have to say that for that member, who cannot actually get a seat from his own colleagues in which to stand in Auckland, to suggest—[ Interruption] I am pointing out that if Mr Twyford could get just half of his party’s members in Auckland to support him, he could have a seat.
Hon Phil GoffI raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I point out that that kind of answer is quite unnecessary and leads to disorder.
Mr SPEAKERI have to point out that that kind of answer will lead to disorder. I say to members who are asking questions that when they frame their questions by asking what the Ministers thinks about certain things or what he believes about certain things, it is very difficult to stop a Minister from saying what he or she thinks or believes, especially if it is a fairly broad question. That is the dilemma that members need to think about when asking questions. If they invite Ministers to say what they think about something, they may not like what a Minister says. That said, I think the Minister’s answer was unnecessarily gratuitous and unhelpful.