11. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Local Government
What is the total cost to date of the services provided to the Auckland Transition Agency by the recruitment firm Momentum?
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Minister of Local Government) Link to this
The evaluation panel chaired by Laila Harré, the Auckland Transition Agency’s human resources and workforce adviser, selected Momentum from three possible agencies due to its quality, processes, and the fact it offered the lowest price. I am not sure what has been charged, but the total cost to the Auckland Transition Agency of Momentum’s consultancy services has been $355,500 for the recruitment of 45 mid-tier managers in the structure of the new Auckland Council.
Is he concerned that public money is connected to a conflict of interest by Michelle Boag campaigning and fund-raising for John Banks on Momentum letterhead while Momentum is recruiting senior executives for the super-city?
I have been assured by the Auckland Transition Agency that Momentum has done a good job. Of course, I am not responsible, as Minister, for the behaviour of Michelle Boag or Momentum.
Does he believe he is displaying “high ethical standards” by washing his hands of this matter when public money is clearly involved?
What confidence does he think Auckland ratepayers have in his ability to manage the transition to the super-city, given revelations that have called into question his ability to act in an ethical manner?
Well, the people of Auckland should have very high confidence, because, as that member has observed, the previous Government for 9 years did nothing in Auckland. This Government has done a remarkable job. To give the member just one example of what that means, a member over there was saying that the water price would go up by hundreds of dollars; in fact, because of the changes we have instituted, the water price for a family of four in my own electorate will fall on 1 July next year by 40 percent.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was about his ability to act in an ethical manner and the confidence of Auckland ratepayers. It was not about water charges in Epsom.
Mr SPEAKERI do not think I need assistance. In fact, the Minister answered the question asked. He gave reasons why Aucklanders would have confidence—so he believed—in him as Minister, and given the length of the question, he was at liberty to answer whatever part of the question he chose. The Minister chose in his answer to cover the issue of confidence. I believe that the Minister answered that part of the question.
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister has refused to answer part of that question on the grounds that he was not, as Minister, responsible for the actions of Michelle Boag—
I do not see what the point of order is. Is the member referring to an earlier supplementary question?
The Minister indicated that he does not have responsibility for the activities of a business that is under contract, it would seem, to the Auckland Transition Agency, and the Minister is absolutely right—he does not have direct responsibility for that. He can certainly be questioned about it, but when it comes to detail, the Minister has indicated that he does not have direct responsibility; he has indicated that to the House.
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
Mr Speaker, the intent of the point of order was to inquire whether your ruling about the Minister’s responsibility would change if the person in question were to take up a senior line management position in the organisation—for example, as the chief of staff of the incoming mayor.
As Speaker, I am not going to rule on hypothetical issues; I can rule only on what is before the House and on matters to do with the order of the House. I have ruled that the Minister is answerable for issues going on in his local government area of responsibility. The Auckland Transition Agency has been set up by statute, so the Minister can answer questions about it. But the Minister in his answer says he does not have ministerial responsibility, and I think there has to be a reasonable point at which I, as Speaker, have to accept that.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to your comment just prior to that, my recollection is that the Minister in his answer to my first supplementary question acknowledged that public money had been spent by the Auckland Transition Agency on contracting Momentum to recruit executives for the super-city. I would have thought that that was clearly within the responsibility of the Minister—the spending of public money by his transition agency.
We will not go back, because that question was dealt with. I can only, through points of order, deal with the issues before the House right now. The question was dealt with; the Minister answered it. The question before the House right now is to do with ethical issues and confidence, and the Minister answered that he believed that Aucklanders did have confidence in him as Minister. The member has further supplementary questions available to him should he wish to take them.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. To help you in the House, Mr Speaker, let me say through you that I am more than happy to help any member of the Opposition frame his or her questions so that they are in order.