Phil Twyford

The future of Queens Wharf must be determined by Aucklanders, not Government ministers intent on railroading through a rushed development at ratepayers' expense, says Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford.

"Queens Wharf is one of the most prime pieces of Auckland real estate in the heart of the city and its development should be a 100 year investment. The last thing we need is ministers sitting in Wellington and dictating its development to Aucklanders in knee-jerk fashion.

"The Government's determination to bully Aucklanders into an inadequate quick fix solution seems to be driven by Prime Minister John Key's desire to create a 'party central' for the World Cup.

"This is frivolous, short-term thinking which Aucklanders will not thank the Government for - especially if $100 million of ratepayers' money is sunk into it with no real consultation," Phil Twyford says.

"We are only 10 months away from a newly elected mayor and council for Auckland and it seems appropriate to wait to determine the future of the waterfront and cruise ship terminal until this occurs and decisions can be made in a democratic and accountable way.

"It would be completely inappropriate if suggestions in the Herald today transpire and the Government uses the Auckland Transition Agency to get its way and bypass the existing councils to force the expenditure of ratepayers' money on such a project.

"The agency has no real mandate to represent Aucklanders and would be proven to be nothing more than a Government puppet - rather than an agency looking after the interests of Auckland - if this cynical manipulation occurred," Phil Twyford says.